Tendulkar hundred secures series

Led by Sachin Tendulkar’s splendid century, India secured a series triumph over West Indies with a comprehensive 160-run victory.

It capped off a huge total of 341-3 for India, to which Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly also made large contributions. West Indian captain Brian Lara made two huge gambles after winning the toss, and neither paid off. Firstly, he decided to bowl on another good pitch. His second gamble was to hand the new ball to Dwayne Smith ahead of Ian Bradshaw.

Smith did come close to a wicket though, with a close leg-before appeal to Robin Uthappa. Uthappa was once again in an aggressive mood, and got India’s innings off to a flyer with some audacious hitting. Once Uthappa had gone, two experienced heads in Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly shared a century partnership.

West Indies thought they had Ganguly sussed, by bowling short from around the wicket. After a couple of false shots though, there were a couple of false shots, but the main result was a crisp pull for four or a slap through the covers if they were too straight and full. Once Ganguly was stumped tidily by Denesh Ramdin, Tendulkar joined Dravid in the middle, and the runs continued.

They ticked along quite casually at first; the first fifty of their partnership took 64 balls. Then came the acceleration. Both elegantly threaded the balls through the fielders, scampered twos and generally ran the West Indians ragged. A slog sweep from Dravid brought his downfall, but that brought no respite for the tourists, not with Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the crease.

Dhoni did not disappoint. He took a few balls to get himself in, and then exploded. The ball disappeared high over the boundary ropes on three occasions, and Tendulkar added another off Marlon Samuels for good measure. They added 75 together in 39 balls, and Tendulkar brought up a 76-ball century off the very last ball of the innings.

West Indies never really looked like getting close to the target. Chris Gayle was once again beaten by Ajit Agarkar early on, and Chanderpaul holed out to square leg, a big wicket considering how well he has batted in the series. West Indies rotated their batting for this game, with Devon Smith batting at number three. He looked in good touch as well but only made 24, before he was spectacularly caught at mid wicket by Yuvraj Singh off the bowling of Irfan Pathan.

At the fall of Smith, Brian Lara came to the wicket for his final innings in India. It was to be a sadly short one. Marlon Samuels thumped one down the ground, which Irfan Pathan attempted to catch. He didn’t but in dropping it was deflected onto the stumps at Lara’s end, and as his bat was not grounded in the crease, he was on his way for three. Another run out soon followed. This time it was intentional, a direct hit from Suresh Raina catching Lendl Simmons out of his grounds.

Samuels had been batting well through this period, but all hope was now gone. He and Ramdin added 66 as Samuels scored 55 to restore some respectability. West Indies eventually folded for 181. It was a very poor West Indian batting display, against a good, but nothing more, Indian bowling performance.

Today was Tendulkar’s day though. ODI century number 41 and his first in a winning cause for India since the 2003 World Cup.

India 341-3
Sachin Tendulkar 100*, Rahul Dravid 78, Sourav Ganguly 68

West Indies 181 all out
Marlon Samuels 55, Denesh Ramdin 40
Anil Kumble 2-27, Ajit Agarkar 2-40

India win by 160 runs and win the series 3-1

Cricket Web Man of the Match : Sachin Tendulkar