West Indies stay series alive: India lead the series 2-1

West Indies 260 for 5 (Samuels 58, Sammy 41*, Russell 40*) strike India 244 (Rohit 95, Rampaul 4-57) by 16 runs

After bowling West Indies to an impressive 16-run win over India, Ravi Rampaul said the early breakthrough was the key to his side's victory in the third ODI. "I would say it was receiving early breakthrough," Rampaul said.

Rampaul said the vital lesson that he had academic on his visits to India with the Trinidad and Tobago squad for the Champions League matches was to bowl base to stump.

"My two visits for the Champions League have help. The key to bowling on these pitches is to keep line and length, bowl wicket to wicket," said the 27-year-old pace bowler.

Rampaul's outstanding figures of 4 for 57 in 8.5 over’s built-in the wickets of India skipper Virender Sehwag and one down Gautam Gambhir for first ball blobs.

Sehwag was dismiss by the bowler with a late out swinger which the stylish opener try to drive and edged to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, while Gambhir was fox by a ball that moved in a shade as the left-handed batsman shoulder arms and was attentive in front.

Rampaul also give credit to debutant off-spinner Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels for backing up him and the other fast bowlers very well.

"The spinners bowled very well and kept it tight. Narine bowled well and kept up the pressure. We also immovable to our plans," he said.

Rampaul did not see the Motera Stadium wicket as a hard one to bat on.

"It was not a complicated wicket to bat on," said the bowler, who had frightened in the earlier Test rubber too which the West Indies lost 0-2.

Rampaul, a man of few words, also spoken the hope that his team would carry on do well in the residual two matches at Indore and Chennai by sticking to their plans.

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Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma brings India successive win

India 270 for 5 (Kohli 117, Rohit 90*) hit West Indies 269 for 9 (Rampaul 86*, Simmons 78, Yadav 3-38) by five wickets

A record-breaking innings from tailender Ravi Rampaul was not sufficient for the West Indies to avoid a second succeeding one-day beat by India in Visakhapatnam.

Rampaul, who came into the match with an regular of 9.47 and a top score of 26 not out, thrash six sixes and as many fours to finish winning on 86 from 66 delivery - eclipsing Mohammad Amir's 73no, the preceding best score by a number 10 in ODI cricket.

Lendl Simmons had previous compiled a exclusive 78 in 102 balls to make up for a miserable middle-order showing, with the West Indies closing on a spirited 269 for nine. But India's class shone through as their comeback, led by Virat Kohli's 123-ball 117, saw them declare their authority to win by five wickets with 11 balls to spare.

The hosts' reply had not ongoing well as Parthiv Patel go for two with just three runs on the board, an exterior edge off Kemar Roach going low to Darren Sammy at second slip.

Virender Sehwag came in to steady belongings only for Gautam Gambhir to go for 12 to leave his side on 29 for two.

Sehwag (26) was next to leave, however, sending a Marlon Samuels delivery to wide long-off where Andre Russell made the catch in the 16th over.

That bring Kohli to the middle and he set about his task in certain fashion, showing mature but optimistic shot assortment to hit 14 fours. That run was brought to an end on 117 by Rampaul as Kohli went for a power shot which edged to Denesh Ramdin to make the catch.

That left the hosts on 247 for four but Rohit Sharma was going along satisfactorily and he helped his side across the final line with an unbeaten 90 feature seven fours and two sixes.

Bad weather had belated the start until 2.30pm local time but no decrease in overs was necessary, send-off Sehwag to insert the tourists after winning the toss.

Adrian Barath endures a brief but sweltering time at the head of the innings, declining for a duck to his eighth delivery as Umesh Yadav and wicketkeeper Patel combined for the wicket.

Yadav had Samuels drop before an excellent catch from Suresh Raina sent him back to make it 25 for two.

Simmons took succeeding fours off Yadav soon after, while Darren Bravo announce himself with an easy flick through square leg.

Bravo's second boundary was even improved but he was gone for 13 when Vinay Kumar tempts a loose caress from the left-hander to have him caught at mid-on.

Vinay followed up by sending Denza Hyatt back for a two-ball duck, but Simmons was unchanged as he eases into the 30s moments later.

Ramdin also unsuccessful to keep him company, the recurring Yadav shaping one missing from the batsmen and having him caught at backward point as the scoreboard moved to 63 for four.

Kieron Pollard came and went but by then Simmons had recorded a 10th ODI fifty and he sustained to make things look easy, lifting Ravichandran Ashwin for six over long-on.

It was Rampaul who actually provide the sting in the tail. He played his shots from the start, hitting his seventh ball for six, and did not slow down when Simmons ran himself out for 78.

His 50 busy only 35 balls and more sixes follow, with two more off Ashwin, one off Jadeja and two from the bowling of Varun Aaron, counting the final ball of the innings.

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"Tough to stop Indian juggernaut"

With India on a 10-match winning strip at home, it is hard to stop their juggernaut, said West Indies captain Darren Sammy in front of the 2nd ODI.

West Indies are yet to win a match next to India despite coming agonizingly close on a few occasion during this tour so far.

"India so far has won the last 10 games at home. When you have a winning run, you forever tend to get a method to go over the line," said Sammy.

India wriggles out of an unstable position to clinch a nerve-wrecking one-wicket win over the West Indies in the first ODI at Cuttack to take 1-0 lead in five-match series.

West Indies had an existent match in their hands when they had India 201 for 9, chase 211 but the victory remains unbelievable as Indian tail of Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron cross the line in time.

However, Sammy said that they would be taking a lot of positives from the last game and felt that their indefinable victory was just approximately the corner.

"We keep receiving close. We need to find ways to defeat that. We manage to take India all the way down to the wire, defensive a small total. As much as we were dissatisfied in losing, the guys will take a lot of self-assurance going forward in the one-day series," the skipper insists.

"We are definitely looking to win games here. We have showed that we can compete with the best one-day teams in the world. Had we showed killer instincts in the last game, we could have crossed the line. Confidently, we would come victorious.

"We as a young team, we need to find a way out whether it's spiritually, physically or strategically. I consider in all the guys here. A win is just round the corner. It could be tomorrow," he added.

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India dropped Yuvraj Singh for final test against Windies series

Yuvraj Singh's test career stammers again on Thursday when the left-hander, a usual match-winner in one-day cricket, was drop from the Indian team for the third and final test next to West Indies.

The 24-year-old right-hander Rohit Sharma will return Yuvraj in the Mumbai test starting on Nov. 22, Indian cricket board (BCCI) secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement.

India clinches the three-test series by winning in Delhi and Kolkata. Yuvraj, who turns 30, next month, wasted the probability he got in the series with innings of 23, 18 and 25 next to West Indies.

One of the cleanest strikers of the ball and an lively fielder whose left-arm spin is more than handy in the 50 and 20-over formats, Yuvraj has struggle to strengthen his place in the test side in more than a decade of international cricket.

Active in India's 20 and 50-over World Cup victory in 2007 and 2011, Yuvraj has played 37 tests but never been a repeated choice in five-day cricket.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni sympathized with the left-hander before the team for the third test was announced.

"Yes, he is going throughout a hard phase but it's important to show self-confidence in him," Dhoni said after India beat West Indies by an innings and 15 runs in the second test at Eden Gardens.

"We all know he is brilliant. He has played really well next to all the big bowlers, particularly in the ODI format which means he has talent to do well in test format as well.

"One more reason is that he has been in and out of the side. It's very hard to back yourself. You have that bit of nervousness. It's a bit hard on him. But optimistically he will recover and do well for India," Dhoni added.

Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Umesh Yadav, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Sharma, Varun Aaron.

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Cricket: India hush-up series with innings triumph

Pragyan Ojha dismiss Darren Bravo after lunch to activate a West Indies fall down as India claim an innings and 15-run victory in the second test today to take a important 2-0 lead in the three game series.

India dismisses the West Indies for 463 in its second innings eight minutes before tea on the fourth day after the visitors resume the day at 195-3.

India, which had a huge 478-run first innings lead, faced stiff struggle from Bravo (136) and Marlon Samuels (84), before spinners Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin took two vital wickets each to regain control.

It was then left to pace bowler Umesh Yadav to help remove the tail and finish with figures of 4-80.

The West Indies batting lineup showed a new power in its second innings as its free caress play changed the tempo of the game even although it was always destined to lose after being dismiss for only 153 in the first innings.

The West Indies was cruise at 401-4 at one stage before Ojha, Ashwin and Yadav claim a pair of wickets each to choose up the last six for just 62 runs.

"It was a extended fielding session after we got them out happily in the first innings," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. "We saw that the track was getting compliment and there was not anything in it for the bowlers.

"I think the first innings was ideal. After that it was a tolerance game. I thought Bravo batted very well."

Bravo was the pick of the batsman and his violence seem to rub on to others. After making 195 against Bangladesh at Mirpur last month, Bravo brings up his second test century in 12 matches.

The 22-year-old left-hander conquered the bowling and reached his century with a four, celebrating by taking off his helmet, pumping his fist in the air and waves his bat on the way to the dressing room.

Bravo earlier survive a chance on 54 when Gautam Gambhir's throw from mid-off went wide of wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni with the batsman approximately at the other end.

Then on 119, he was given not out when replays show a clear bat-pad catch taken by Gambhir at short-leg off left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

His fifth-wicket partnership with Samuels made the Indian bowling look walker as they plunder 132 runs off 158 deliveries before Bravo was out caught to a low catch by Rahul Dravid at slip off left-arm spinner Ojha.

Dravid also took a fine one-handed catch to his right off Ojha to release Carlton Baugh for 3, before offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin attentive Samuels’s lbw in the next over to end West Indies' hopes of prolong actions.

Captain Darren Sammy made a stylish 32 off 37 balls with one four and three sixes, but the end was always predictable.

"I'd like to praise the guys at the way they batted in the second innings," Sammy said. "If we put two innings jointly we can pose a challenge to other teams. India showed us how to bat on this track, it called for request. Bravo batted superbly."

Earlier, Chanderpaul, seen as the visiting side's best hope of putting up a resistance, was dismissed when he seemed to be settled in for another big innings.

Chanderpaul hit six fours off 94 balls before he was dismissed by Yadav with the second new ball. Chanderpaul, resume on 21, played-on a release around the off stump much to the joy of the few thousand audience at the stadium.

The final test will be held in Mumbai from Tuesday.

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India on top as West Indies looks to delay predictable

A dominant India put themselves on course for a series-clinching victory even as West Indies fought resolutely in their second innings to delay the inevitable after conceding a huge 478-run lead in the second cricket Test here today.

West Indies were 195 for three at stumps on day three, still 283 runs behind, after India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni enforced the follow-on after bowling the visitors out for a paltry 153 runs in their first innings.

India had amassed a mammoth 631 for seven declared in their first essay, and then rode on Pragyan Ojha's four-wicket haul to take a massive lead.

But the West Indies then launched a spirited fightback riding on half centuries from opener Adrian Barath (62) and Kirk Edwards (60).

Darren Bravo (38, 84b, 1x4, 3x6) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (21, 40b, 3x4) were the two unbeaten batsmen at the crease at the close of play on an eventful third day.

The penultimate day's proceedings will once again begin 30 minutes earlier (8.30am) to make up for the lost time because of poor light on day two.

The visitors had two contrasting batting displays today. First, they batted like school kids to concede a huge lead, their biggest first-innings deficit since 1930 when they fell behind England by 563 runs, but in the second essay they frustrated the Indians with a dogged approach.

India still have a slim chance of bettering their biggest victory of innings and 239 runs, achieved against Bangladesh in Dhaka (2007). India's biggest margin of win over West Indies is by innings and 112 runs in Mumbai in 2002.

Resuming at 34 for two, West Indies batted poorly in the morning session to straightway hand over the advantage to the Indians.

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Sharma shine as India thrash Windies

Rohit Sharma guided India to a calm four-wicket victory over West Indies in the first one-day international in Port of Spain.

Sharma's winning 68 off 75 balls ensure India got over a shaky start as they chase down a modest Windies total of 214 for nine with more than five overs to spare.

Only Ramnaresh Sarwan (56) and Marlon Samuels (55), who put on 82 for the fourth wicket, accessible anything for the hosts after they selected to bat, while Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the visiting bowlers with three wickets for 32 runs.

West Indies were without the big-hitting Chris Gayle because of a row with the board and they miss his power at the top of the order.

Kirk Edwards look to get a swift start with a boundary in the first over, but he was drop by Sharma at slip off Munaf Patel as both openers struggle.

He lost partner Lendl Simmons for a difficult six off 23 balls when he top-edged Praveen Kumar to Harbhajan and Darren Bravo followed the next over, as Sharma made compensation for his earlier drop to give Munaf a deserve wicket.

Edwards was drop again on 16 and 20 as he struggled with the spin of Amit Mishra and Harbhajan, but finally fell to the latter for 21 when he lobs the ball to Virat Kohli at slip.

Sarwan and Samuels dug in, surviving many appeals, before the latter broke the shackles with two boundaries off Yusuf Pathan in the 26th over. Five overs later he took the hosts past 100, then hammered Kohli for six off a free hit.

Sarwan went past 50 with back-to-back boundaries off Munaf, but was strangle down the leg side off the last ball of the same over leaving his side 141 for four with 12 overs remaining.

Dwayne Bravo and Samuels attempt to accelerate with a six apiece off one Mishra over, but Samuels played on to Suresh Raina in the next over and Bravo was confused to give Harbhajan his second wicket.

The tail could offer little more afterward. Shikhar Dhawan got the India comeback off and running with back-to-back boundaries off Ravi Rampaul.

Parthiv Patel made it three in a row but he was run out soon after subsequent good work by Dwayne Bravo and Carlton Baugh. Virat Kohli followed, wedged behind off Rampaul, and when Subramaniam Badrinath under-edged Devendra Bishoo throughout to Baugh, India was stressed on 61 for three.

But Sharma joint first with Dhawan and then Raina to push India towards victory.
Dhawan (51) carted Dwayne Bravo for six, and then passed 50 with a boundary off the same bowler, before falling to Anthony Martin when he selected out Simmons at deep midwicket.

Raina and Sharma were happy regularly to keep up with the rate in ones and twos, though the latter took his side past 150 by dispatch Darren Sammy for six.

Raina accumulate 43 before falling in identical fashion to Dhawan, but a partnership of 80 meant his side needed just 21 more to win. And, despite Yusuf falling, Harbhajan ended things off in style with a six off Sammy.

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