New Delhi: India relied on their bowlers to stage a remarkable recovery scripting a comfortable 48-run win in the second cricket One-day international against the West Indies to level the five-match series 1-1, here on Saturday.
Chasing a 264-run target, West Indies were cruising at one stage as they were 170 for two in the 36th over before their innings fell apart on a sluggish Ferozshah Kotla track.
India defended the total despite West Indies’ early domination as opener Dwayne Smith hit a career-best 97. However, once Smith was dismissed Indian bowlers called the shots, causing a batting collapse.
From a comfortable 170 for two, the Caribbean side lost their last eight wickets for just 45 runs to be all out for 215 in 46.3 overs.
Mohammed Shami (4/36) recorded his career-best figures while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (3/44) and leg-spinner Amit Mishra (2/40) snared five wickets between them as the inept technique of the Caribbeans against spinning deliveries was exposed thoroughly.
Electing to bat, India had posted a competitive 263 for seven as Suresh Raina hit a sparkling 62 while Virat Kohli (62) returned to form with his first half-century in eight months.
Raina carried his splendid T20 form into the match and Kohli regained his lost touch partly at his home ground as the two batsmen added 105 runs for the fourth wicket after a sedate start by India.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni contributed in India’s total with his unbeaten 51 off 40 balls while Ambati Rayudu scored 32, batting at number three, a place where Kohli usually bats.
The two teams will now travel to Visakhapatnam for the third ODI on Tuesday.
The West Indies looked like taking it away from the hosts as the two openers – Smith and Darren Bravo – settled nicely after getting a measure of the pitch and the bowlers.
They easily took the team to a comfortable 64 in 13 overs without loss.
The Windies openers did not exactly set the stage on fire but hardly gave anything to India. The match was on ever keel as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and spinners toiled hard initially.
They did not leak many runs but did not get wickets either.
Meanwhile, Smith completed his 50 with a single off Amit Mishra and also lofted the leg-spinner for a six over mid-wicket to raise his side’s 100 in the 23rd over. Pollard also creamed a six off Mishra, who was by and large bowling well. He scored 40 runs from 50 balls with three sixes and a four.
Raina’s assuring presence on one end not only pulled India out of slump but it also gave Kohli a chance to arrest his slide as the Delhi lad could play freely without having to worry about run-rate. Kohli struggled in the entire England tour, where he could score only one fifty and that too at the tour-ending T20 match. While Raina scored at a good pace, Kohli was patient in his approach, going for singles and hitting an odd boundary in between.
The stand was broken when Raina miscued a shot off Jerome Taylor and the edge flew to Kieron Pollard at mid-off. Raina’s 62 came off 60 balls with five fours and two sixes.
The diminutive southpaw hit a breathtaking straight lofted drive off Dwayne Bravo, bringing some excitement to the match, which lacked energy. Kohli was playing the second fiddle beautifully, giving Raina more strike.
The duo carried the team to a position from where the Dhoni and other could push for a big score. (PTI)
