Tuesday, Jun 04, 2002
Tuesday, Jun 04, 2002 |
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Cricket
By Vijay Lokapally
The jubilant Indian team after winning the one-day series against the West Indies 2-1 on Sunday. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan
After the first two matches were washed out at Kingston, India won the third match at Bridgetown and West Indies squared it by claiming the next here. While the Indians have every reason to rejoice in their one-day triumph, they would do well to remember the debacles at Bridgetown and Kingston. Let not the introspection be clouded over by the limited-overs win. There were lessons to be learnt in the Test series loss too. The West Indies had been set an original target of 261 to win in 50 overs but it was revised to 248 in 44 overs when rain interrupted play with the home team five for no loss in 1.5 overs. That explained the slow pace at which the stands filled up on Sunday as the fans were apprehensive with forecast of rain. The West Indies had expected a sound start but Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds appeared to have run out of steam. The openers played their shots too early in the innings and in the process lost their focus, giving the Indian bowlers a good start. Ashish Nehra, keen to make a mark, returned with a bang claiming Hinds' wicket. With his ninth ball he induced an edge and Sehwag grabbed it at second slip. Zaheer Khan made a significant dent in the West Indies camp when he broke through Gayle's defence. It was a crafty ball that embarrassed the in-form Gayle. It was a crucial wicket since Gayle possesses the quality to destroy the bowling as he did in the previous match when he scored a blistering 84. Lara and Sarwan did not indulge in any extravagant strokeplay. They also earned a reprieve each through Sehwag and Yuveraj Singh. Lara (4) was put down by Sehwag at second slip off Nehra while Yuveraj grassed Sarwan (15) at midwicket off Harbhajan Singh. A wicket at that stage would have meant a lot in terms of creating pressure on the West Indies which struggled to keep the scoreboard moving. Sarwan was subdued but not alarmed as he showed superb temperament in staying in the middle with Lara goading him. Two exquisite strokes from Sarwan made the day — an off-drive off Agarkar and another off Harbhajan that cleared the boundary for a grand six. Shots that spoke of the man's outstanding timing of the ball. But he ultimately succumbed to pressure; castled by Harbhajan. Even before the fifth bowler had come into the picture, the West Indies had lost the cream of its batting. Carl Hoopers desperate pull that flew to mid-off signified his frustration. His dismissal pushed the West Indies on the course to defeat. Lara, never looking convincing, expectedly let his fans down. He was just a shadow of his self in this series. But the match was not over yet as India had to contend with Shivnarine Chanderpaul and his 71-run stand with Ridley Jacobs. Quite uncharacteristically, Chanderpaul ran desperately, swung his bat around and slammed a fifty off 38 balls to keep West Indies' hopes alive. Chanderpaul was dropped first ball by Agarkar off his own bowling and then Ganguly let him off Tendulkar. It was always going to be tough and once Chanderpaul skied the ball to Ganguly at midwicket it was all over for the West Indies. Tendulkar, with his knock of 65 and contribution with the ball, snaring Lara, was adjudged the `man of the match. Ganguly, for his batting and captaincy, was declared the `man of the series. SCOREBOARD
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