India vs. West Indies: Highlights, Scorecard, Report from Cricket World Cup

India booked their ticket to the quarter-finals of the Cricket World Cup with a battling four-wicket win over West Indies in Perth.

It was a low-scoring affair, with West Indies being rolled out for 182. India made heavy weather of the chase, but skipper MS Dhoni compiled a patient, vital 45 not out to see his side over the line.

Things began badly for West Indies, as Dwayne Smith looked all at sea on the fast, bouncy Perth wicket.

Time and again he was beaten for pace and Mohammed Shami eventually put Smith out of his misery when taking the edge of the opener’s bat.

Marlon Samuels came and went in comedy fashion, although he could not be blamed for his demise. Chris Gayle lobbed a ball up in the air and instead of running, he stood and watched. Samuels got all the way to the other end before being sent back; he was run out by some distance.

It was a dismissal that summed up West Indies’ World Cup campaign to date.

Gayle was at fault for Samuels’ departure and he set about atoning by playing some huge shots. He peppered the boundary but was undone by a bit of extra bounce from Shami and top-edged a ball to Sharma at square leg.

Chris Gayle caught Ego bowled Shami just about describes that dismissal

— prempanicker (@prempanicker) March 6, 2015

Rather than consolidating, Denesh Ramdin went for an expansive cover drive off his first ball and dragged it onto his stumps.

Jonathan Carter and Darren Sammy batted with the team in mind and rebuilt the innings, which allowed captain Jason Holder to take the innings into the final 10 overs.

Holder has been thrust into the captaincy at the age of 23, but he has showed maturity beyond his years during his time in charge.

Jason Holder! We salute you for holding your ground! Great job! #WorldCuponUC #IndVsWI http://ift.tt/1aQasUr

— UC Browser (@UCBrowser) March 6, 2015

Aware of the need to give his bowlers a chance by posting a respectable total, Holder defended the good balls, rotated the strike and punished the bad balls.

He brought up his second half-century of the tournament, but he went for a big hit off the left-arm spin of Ravindra Jadeja and holed out to Virat Kohli and was last man out for 57.

West Indies coach Curtly Ambrose read the riot act to his players on the field prior to the start of the India innings, and it seemed to secure the desired response as Jerome Taylor charged in and bowled with venom.

That pep talk by Curtly Ambrose has me Pumped!! And I don't even know what he said 😜 #cwc15 #INDvWI https://t.co/7KjIbhXN4m

— Jahan Zabe (@rararana) March 6, 2015

He found bounce and movement and was rewarded with the wickets of India openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.

WATCH: Taylor takes the wicket of Sharma #fireitup #cwc15 See the action on Sky Sports World Cup http://t.co/yh8pfN5SQa

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 6, 2015

Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane steadied the ship with a 43-run partnership, but the former was enticed into taking on a short ball from Andre Russell and picked out Samuels on the fence at square-leg.

Rahane departed shortly after, with the No. 4 given out caught behind. He went for a review but snicko showed a slight edge and he was sent on his way.

WICKET: Rahane is given out. He reviewed it but the umpire's decision stands. http://t.co/rXDPhanpqr #fireitup http://ift.tt/1MbVyDE

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 6, 2015

Suresh Raina has proven susceptible to the short ball during his career and he was given plenty of chin music by the West Indies quicks.

He came through the test but fell for the sucker punch of the gentle swing of Smith. He chased a wide ball and edged it behind to Ramdin to leave India wobbling at 107 for 5.

Jadeja fell soon after and India were in trouble, but skipper Dhoni released the tension with an uppercut for six off Russell and he was able to see his side home with more than 10 overs to spare.

India can now look forward to the knockout stages, while West Indies have work to do if they are to make it out of the group stage.

//



from Bleacher Report http://ift.tt/1zUyUsI

via IFTTT March 06, 2015 at 05:46AM