Reuters
Perth, March 7: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (45 n o, 56b, 3×4, 1×6) lived up to his reputation as ‘Captain Cool’ and guided India to a four-wicket victory over the West Indies here Friday. It was India’s fourth successive victory in Pool-B and assured them of a place in the last eight stage of the ICC cricket World Cup.
Chasing 183 for victory, India were in a spot of bother at 134 for six. However, Dhoni along with his CSK compatriot Ravichandran Ashwin (16 n o, 32b) put on an unbeaten 51 runs for the seventh wicket to maintain India’s spotless record in the competition.
Earlier fast bowler Mohammed Shami (3/35) returned from injury to torment West Indies with three wickets as the Caribbean side was bundled out for 182 after opting to bat first.
West Indies captain Jason Holder (57, 64b, 4×4, 3×6) hit his second half century and highest score in one-day internationals to give his team some sort of a total to defend against India. But that did not prove enough in the end.
India also struggled on a pitch offering plenty of bounce for the tall West Indies fast bowlers and kept losing wickets during the chase before holding their nerve to get over the line with 65 balls to spare.
At the beginning Virat Kohli (33, 36b, 5×4) also contributed to the team’s cause with a crucial 43-run partnership for the third wicket with Ajinkya Rahane (14). But just when he looked like playing a match-winning knock he tried to hook a ball from well outside the off-stump and holed out to Marlon Samuels at deep square. India’s chase also received a huge boost from the West Indian bowlers who bowled 19 wides in their effort to bowl the short stuff.
Shami, who missed India’s win against the United Arab Emirates with a knee injury Saturday, put West Indies on the backfoot early by dismissing hard-hitting openers Dwayne Smith (6) and Chris Gayle (21) with the new ball.
Shami and fast bowling partner Umesh Yadav (2/42) started well, bowling fast and short on the WACA pitch, considered the quickest in the world, as India dominated the explosive West Indies batting line-up.
Gayle, who hit the World Cup’s highest individual score of 215 against Zimbabwe last week, offered two difficult chances before he pulled Shami straight to Mohit Sharma at deep square leg. He was also guilty of running out Marlon Samuels (2).
With their talisman gone, West Indies were reduced to 35-4 and then 85-7 on the first ball of the 25th over before some resolute batting from the tail saw them through to the 45th over.
Right-arm paceman Shami came back with an older ball to take out former captain Darren Sammy (26) to end a promising 39-run stand for the eighth wicket before Holder added 51 for the ninth with Jerome Taylor (11).
