hi every body ... The batsman, looking set for only the second double ton in the history of one-day internationals, pointed his bat towards a sheepish-looking West Indian skipper as if to thank his rival number for the ‘favour’.
Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, India’s stand-in skipper, on 170 when he was reprieved, blazed his way to 219 (149b, 25x4, 7x6) that powered the hosts to series win over the West Indies here on Thursday night at the Holkar Stadium.
After posting their highest ODI total – 418 for five – India bowled out the visitors to 265 in 49.2 overs to register a comprehensive 153-run win to take an unassailable 3-1 lead going into Chennai’s final match on Sunday. On a day when Sehwag authored a masterpiece, Denesh Ramdin’s valiant run-a-ball 96 was a mere footnote.
While the day largely belonged to Sehwag, debutant Rahul Sharma (3/43) managed to steal some limelight with three crucial blows when the West Indies were going berserk. The Punjab leg-spinner struck thrice in his first three overs -- all with the last ball of each over and all bowled – to reduce the match into a no-contest.
Sehwag, who also completed 8000 ODI runs during his knock, won the toss for the fourth time in succession, but this time opted to bat first on what appeared a batting beauty. Having endured a succession of poor starts in the previous three matches, India went in with their tried and tested pair at the top, Sehwag partnering his Delhi mate Gautam Gambhir (67, 67, 11x4). The move paid handsome returns as the left-right combination laid a strong platform for a big total.
Having warmed up with a flicked four off Ravi Rampaul, Sehwag played an uppercut to deposit Kemar Roach over thirdman fence. For the next few minutes, Gambhir, dropped on 20 by Andre Russell off his own bowling, struck a series of fours before his senior mate firmly took the charge welcoming off-spinner Sunil Narine with a lofted six over long-on. A placid pitch and superfast outfield had already blunted the visiting attack but a supreme lack of intensity on the field and bowlers’ own profligacy ensured that the mayhem got only more brutal.
Slight slip-up
Sehwag seldom spares even a good delivery and a slight slip-up either in line or length is inviting trouble. But West Indies seemed to welcome a calamity on the day. The 33-year-old reached his first 50 runs in 41 balls but that was only an appetiser before the main course. The opener consumed a mere 28 balls to bring up his 15th ODI ton (69b, 10x4, 5x6).
While Sehwag was bruising in his assault, Gambhir hurt the Windies no less with his deft slices and cuts. The only jarring note between the two was a surprising lack of understanding while running between the wickets which eventually resulted in the dismissal of Gambhir. The damage, however, had been done as an impressive 176 had come in a matter of 137 balls.
A struggling Suresh Raina was promoted to number three and the left-hander did his cause no harm with a strokeful 55 (44b, 6x4) before he ran himself out going for a non-existent second run after adding 140 (105b) for the second wicket.
Raina is one of the fiercest hitters of the cricket ball but looked a mute spectator in front of Sehwag’s breathtaking blitzkrieg. It was during this association that Sehwag slowed down a bit but only relatively. He took 43 balls to move from 100 to 150, his slowest phase during the innings, but needed just another 28 balls to get to the magic figure of 200.
Score Board
INDIA
Gambhir (run out) 67
(67b, 11x4)
Sehwag c (sub) Marin b Pollard 219
(149b, 25x4, 7x6)
Raina (run out) 55
(44b, 6x4)
Jadeja c Rampaul b Russell 10
(10b)
Rohit b Roach 27
(16b, 3x4)
Kohli (not out) 23
(11b, 3x4)
Parthiv (not out) 3
(3b)
Extras (LB-1, W-13) 14
Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 418
Fall of wickets: 1-176 (Gambhir), 2-316 (Raina), 3-341 (Jadeja), 4-376 (Rohit), 5-393 (Rohit).
Bowling: Roach 10-0-88-1, Rampaul 9-0-66-0 (w-3), Russell 7-0-63-1 (w-1), Narine 6-0-46-0 (w-2), Sammy 3-0-30-0 (w-5), Pollard 7-0-65-1 (w-2), Samuels 8-0-59-0.
Scoring pattern: 5 overs: 30/1; 10: 63/0; 20: 149/0; 30: 225/1; 40: 311/1; Close of play: 418/5 in 50 overs.
Runs during: Power Play1: 1-10 overs: 63/0; Power Play2 (bowling): 16-20 overs: 41/0; Power Play3 (batting): 36-40 overs: 48/0.
WEST INDIES
Simmons c Parthiv b Jadeja 36
(35b, 6x4, 1x6)
Powell (run out) 7
(5b, 1x4)
Samuels b Rahul 33
(26b, 4x4, 2x6)
Hyatt b Rahul 11
(17b, 2x4)
Ramdin c Rohit b Raina 96
(96b, 12x4)
Pollard b Rahul 3
(4b)
Russell st Parthiv b Raina 29
(24b, 1x4, 3x6)
Sammy c Mithun b Ashwin 2
(6b)
Rampaul c (sub) Tiwary b Jadeja 10
(31b, 1x4)
Roach c&b Jadeja 7
(19b, 1x4)
Narine (not out) 27
(33b, 3x4, 1x6)
Extras (LB-2, W-2) 4
Total (all out, 49.2 overs) 265
Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Powell), 2-63 (Simmons), 3-81 (Samuels), 4-90 (Hyatt), 5-100 (Pollard), 6-140 (Russell), 7-145 (Sammy), 8-168 (Rampaul), 9-201 (Roach).
Bowling: Vinay 4-0-34-0, Ashwin 10-0-59-1 (w-1), Jadeja 10-2-34-3, Mithun 4-0-37-0 (w-1), Rahul 10-0-43-3, Raina 6.2-0-17-2, Rohit 5-0-39-0.
Scoring pattern: after 5 overs: 38/1; 10: 64/2; 20: 118/5; 30: 161/7; 40: 211/9; Close of play: 265 all out in 49.2 overs.
Runs during Power Play1: 1-10 overs: 64/2; Power Play2 (bowling): 16-20 overs: 22/1; Power Play3 (batting): 36-40: 37/1.
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