India stay alive with big victory

Skipper Virat Kohli led from the front with a blistering century (102) as India bounced back with an emphatic 102-run triumph over the West Indies in a do-or-die encounter of the ODI tri-series here on Friday.

The Indians, who had lost both their previous matches, posted a challenging 311 for seven before bowling out the hosts for 171 in 34 overs to grab a bonus point via the Duckworth/Lewis method in a rain-truncated match.

The target was revised to 274 in 39 overs after a two-hour rain delay before which the hosts were 56 for two in 10 overs.

India’s victory has thrown the series wide open with all three teams in with a chance of making the finals.

West Indies are in with a stronger chance having won two of their three matches for nine points. They play their last league game against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
India will face Sri Lanka on Tuesday in the last league match. Both the teams have five points each.

Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar rattled the Windies chase with wickets of Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo before the heavens opened up and held up play for two hours. After resumption, the Caribbeans succumbed to pressure and the team lost wickets in a heap.

Kumar (3-29) and Ishant Sharma (2-30) knocked off half of the West Indies’ batting line up in no time. Sharma had Marlon Samuels (6) caught before removing set opener Johnson Charles (45), while Kumar added the wicket of swashbuckler Kieron Pollard, who could not even open his account.

Umesh Yadav (3-32) joined the party by scalping Denesh Ramdin (9) and rival skipper Dwayne Bravo (14) to leave West Indies reeling at 108 for six.