Sloppy, sloppy West Indies slumped to a 59-run defeat at the picturesque HPCA Stadium, situated on a mesmerising location in the Himalayas, inside 50 overs.
But – more than the scenic landscape and India’s batting performance – the match was marred by West Indies abrupt departure from the tour because of ongoing payment dispute.
There was something cooking when Windies players assembled with skipper Dwayne Bravo for the toss and as the news broke about their sudden departure everything became clear.
Half-hearted West Indies never looked a side competing – the bowlers were all over the pitch and fielders dropping sitters – and could maybe making a statement that they don’t want to be part of the series.
The Indian batsmen, however, mercilessly thrashed the touring party and pilled 330 runs batting first on a belter. Virat Kohli, in particular, made the opportunity count and smashed his 20th ODI ton and provide smiles to the Indian dressing room.
Team India could have crossed a 350-run mark but thanks to some decent bowling in the final overs the Caribbean bowlers didn’t allow the Indian batting to fire, despite having wickets in hand.
Kohli, however, was at his usual best after a long time and cleared the ropes at will in his 114-ball 127. The Delhi batsman started from his favourite number three position and paced his innings quite well and stitched an important partnership with Suresh Raina.
Raina (71) and Kohli made 138 runs for the third and put Team India well on course of a huge total. Indian innings lost a bit of momentum after Raina’s departure as India lost Ravindra Jadeja (2) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (6) cheaply.
“Virat played well in the last game, continued from there and it’s important he gets back into good nick,” Dhoni said. “Took his time, otherwise he is natually aggressive. I thought he would usually attack the spinners, but he took his time and built his innings.”
The West Indies never looked a side chasing a mammoth total and faced difficulties since the start. Dwayne Smith was the first to go, when Umesh Yadav got him for a duck, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar ended Kieron Pollard’s (6) miseries.
Windies players struggled to put bat on ball initially in the innings and only managed 27 runs in first 11 overs. Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels made a 56-run partnership for the third wicket but the run rate was always creeping up and they the Windies batting collapsed under pressure.
Left-arm spinner Akshar Patel bowled well and the Caribbean batsmen failed to read him. Samuels and Russell, however, towards the end spoiled more than decent figures of the Indian bowlers by clearing the ropes handsomely.
Russell () fell short of a well-deserved fifty, but Samuels maintained his run-making form for the maroon brigade to score second hundred of the series. He, however, couldn’t prevent Windies to bundle for a 271 in 48.1 overs.
