The West Indies tasted the maiden success at the third ODI with India in the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera here on Monday. But splendid performance by the Caribbean bowlers had to be commended who turned the match into the WI favor.
Chasing a target for 261, India were all out for 244 in 46.5 overs. Rohit Sharma was the top scorer with 95 while Ravi Rampaul picked up 57 for the West Indies. Earlier, West Indies skipper Darren Sammy (41 not out) and Andre Russell (40 not out) plundered 79 runs off the last 34 balls to help the West Indies post 260/5.
The Indian batsmen were in utter chaos as most of them crumbled under pressure. Among the ten wickets that went down four were LBW and two were run out. The performance showed how disorderly they were in the match. Either they took the match very lightly or were over charged with the pressure. The position was never in equilibrium when the home side was batting. It is time to pull their socks for the future as it is too early to write them off.
In the post match interview the Indian Captain Virender Sehwag said performance of the top-order remains a concern for his team after the hosts slumped to a 16-run defeat against the West Indies. He further went on, `the total was ok to chase but we lost couple of early wickets with me and Gautam (Gambhir) getting out back-to-back in the second over. And after that we did not have a good partnership in the top order. If we lose early wickets it is difficult to chase.’