West Indies inspired by a career-best spell from leg-spinner Anthony Martin, completed a 103-run victory to secure a consolation victory in the fourth One-day International against World champions India on Monday.
Rohit Sharma led the way with 39, and was one of a handful of Indian batsmen that got starts without carrying on, as Martin captured four for 36 from 10 overs, and West Indies successfully defended a target of 250.
Martin, later named Man-of-the-Match, rounded off the victory, when he had Ishant Sharma stumped for a duck with his final delivery of the match at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
The victory was a consolation for West Indies, after India took an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series with a victory two days ago at the same venue.
The final match of the series will be played on Thursday at Sabina Park in the Jamaica capital of Kingston.
“We didn’t bat very well, but all credit must go to the West Indies because they played really well in this game,” said India captain Suresh Raina.
“We are always disappointed when we are on the losing side, but West Indies batted really well, and they bowled really well – and we did not do things well in this game.
“Our shot selection was really wrong. We lost our shape, and we did not have any partnerships.
“Rohit was there playing well again, but Yusuf (Pathan) and I got out at a crucial time, but credit must go to the West Indies for the way they played.”
India’s bowlers had done their best to maintain the status quo, but Kieron Pollard top scored with 70 and Lendl Simmons supported with 67, helping West Indies reach 249 for eight.
Praveen Kumar was the most successful Indian bowler with three for 37 from 10 overs, and leg-spinner Amit Mishra captured two for 56 from 10 overs.
The World champions however, were left to chase their highest target of the series, and started brightly.
But they kept losing wickets at inopportune times, allowing the West Indies bowlers to dictate terms.
Manoj Tiwary was caught behind for two in the second over off West Indies captain Darren Sammy, who held a stupendous return catch in the 10th over to dismiss Parthi Patel for 26, leaving India 41 for two.
The Indians continued to make steady progress, but Subramanian Badrinath was caught behind down the leg-side for 12 in the 17th over to precipitate an unstable period for the visitors.
Four more wickets fell for 62 between the 21st and the 31st over, including Sharma, India’s batting hero in the series, caught at deep mid-wicket off Martin, leaving the batsmen to fend for themselves.
Andre Russell ended with three for 16 from seven overs, and Sammy took two for 43, breathing a huge sigh of relief following the game.
“We did a lot more things better in this game,” he said. “Throughout this series we have been improving, and in this game, we put a decent target of 250 on the board.
“The bowlers throughout the series have been collecting wickets early, and this time we were in a similar situation, and handled it differently.
“We had a different mindset, and the guys put the ball in the right areas, and we got the wickets we needed to complete a victory.”
