Blue the Brightest on Holi at Perth

India took on West Indies in their fourth Group B encounter at the WACA, Perth on 6^th March. It was Holi back home in India and every Indian wanted the colour Blue to reign at Perth. However, playing against the West Indies has always been tricky. The Caribbean team is perhaps the most unpredictable side in the tournament so far. On their day, they have the potential to blow any team away. India needed to be wary. The track at the WACA has traditionally been pacy and bouncy. Some even call it the bounciest track in the world. And the West Indies played with an all fast attack.

The West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first. Traditionally it has never been easy to chase at Perth especially under lights. India was going to chase for the first time in this World Cup. A win would assure them of a place in the Knock-Outs. The big screen counted down and they were off.

The Indian bowlers began with pace and accurate line and length. The West Indies openers, Gayle and Smith watched the ball. The onus was on Chris Gayle to deliver. However, the Indian bowlers, Shami and Yadav bowled, keeping the line and length in mind. Gayle was beaten quite a few times by both. Dwayne Smith nicked the last ball of the fifth over to Dhoni giving Shami his wicket. The Indian supporters at the WACA were up on their feet. The West Indies were 8-1. Marlon Samuels joined Gayle. However, his stay at the crease was short-lived. A misunderstanding between him and Gayle left both the batsmen at the strikers end and Virat Kohli did the rest by flicking the bails off at the non-striker’s end. West Indies were now in trouble at 15-2. Jonathan Carter joined Gayle. Gayle, now perhaps angry, decided to take on the Indian bowlers. A vintage Gayle smashed two boundaries and a huge six over mid-wicket. Shami came to India’s rescue. He bowled fast and bowled with bounce. Gayle mistimed a pull, the ball flew off and Mohit Sharma came running in from fine-leg completed a good catch. The dangerous Gayle was sent back to the hut. The Windies were struggling at 35-3. Thereafter, the West Indies continued to lose wickets. Ramdin was castled by Yadav, Simmons was caught of Mohit Sharma’s bowling by Umesh Yadav, Carter was caught by Shami of Ashwin’s bowling, and Russel was caught by Kohli in the deep of Jadeja’s bowling. The West Indies were reeling at 85-7. It seemed probable that India would bowl out the West Indies under 150. The young West Indies captain Jason Holder joined Darren Sammy.

They built a partnership of sorts. Steadily they played the Indian bowlers and took the score past 100. Darren Sammy played the anchor while Holder played his shots. A few proper cricketing shots by Holder were a treat to watch. However, disappointment was in store for the West Indies fans when Sammy nicked a Mohammad Shami ball to Dhoni. The partnership was broken and West Indies were 124-8.  Jerome Taylor joined Captain Holder. Holder played his shots confidently and brought up a well-deserved half-century. Holder and Taylor took the West Indies score past 150. While they were in there, a competitive score of 220-230 was on the cards. However, that was not to be as Taylor skied one and Umesh Yadav completed an easy catch off his own bowling. The scorecard read 175-9. Kemar Roach joined Captain Holder. Holder hit Jadeja straight down the ground, but his shot was mistimed. Virat Kohli completed a good catch at long-off and the West Indies were bowled out for 182. Holder played a Captain’s knock of 57 of 64 balls. His innings included 4 boundaries and 3 towering Sixes. West Indies bowlers had now something to bowl at. However, seeing India’s batting in the tournament, it looked like an easy chase.

Mohammad Shami was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets of 8 overs and giving away 35 runs. Yadav and Jadeja snared 2 each while Ashwin and Mohit picked one wicket each.

Indian openers walked out to thunderous cheers. An animated Curtley Ambrose was seen instructing the West Indies bowlers to bowl the right areas.

Jerome Taylor began the West Indies bowling. He kept a strict off-stump line and asked various questions to the Indian batsmen. His tight bowling borne fruit when Shikhar Dhawan nicked one and was snared by Sammy at the slips.  Rohit Sharma followed Dhawan to the pavilion when he nicked Taylor to Ramdin. India were in a trouble of sorts at 20-2. Rahane and Kohli steadied the Indian ship. They played cautiously and took the score past 50. Kohli particularly dispatched the bad balls to the fence with ease. His shots were a treat to watch.

However, he pulled a short one by Russel and was caught by Samuels at deep-square leg on 33. Rahane was joined by Suresh Raina at the crease. India were 63-3. Raina was peppered with shot balls by the West Indies bowlers. The pair played slowly and continued the chase. However, Rahane got a feather of Kemar Roach’s bowling and was given out by umpire Llong and the decision was confirmed by umpire Bowden. India was 78-4. The West Indies bowlers particularly were disciplined. They bowled to their plans and did not give much room to the batsmen. Captain MS Dhoni joined Raina. Countless times in the past, MS Dhoni had taken India to victory from difficult situations. He played like he always does in such situations. 

Manoeuvring the ball in the circle and running hard between the wickets, Raina and Dhoni took the score past 100. But, Raina was done in by the short one. He chased on wide one of Dwayne Smith and got a thick edge and Ramdin completed an easy catch behind the stumps. India now was 107-5. Jadeja joined Captain Cool. MS Dhoni continued his watchful batting. He nudged the ball around and played every ball to its merit. However, Jadeja was caught by Samuels of Russell’s bowling. He fell for 13. India was now 134-6. Ashwin now joined Dhoni.

India needed to safely see the West Indies bowlers off. The target was well within reach and the Indian batsmen just had to stay in the middle and play out every ball to its merit. That is exactly what Dhoni and Ashwin did. Dhoni’s innings was a mix of stroke-playing and nudges. Without further damage, they took ahead the Indian innings.  With a faint edge to the fence to third-man, India brought up the winning runs. In 39.1 overs India brought up 185 for the loss of 6 wickets. India emerged victorious by 4 wickets. MS Dhoni top scored with 44 not out of 56 balls. His innings included 3 4s and 1 6. Jerome Taylor was the pick for the West Indies with figures of 2-33 of 8 overs. With this win, India were now through to the quarter-finals, the second team after New Zealand. Mohammad Shami was declared the Player of the Match for his figures of 3-35 for 8 overs.

MS Dhoni has now become the Indian captain with most ODI wins under his belt. He overtook Sourav Ganguly after yesterday’s win. India now will travel to New Zealand for their remaining group games against Ireland and Zimbabwe on the 10^th and 14^th respectively.