Top order misfires, India post 217

Port of Spain, May 26 (UNI) The much vaunted top order fired blank again and it was twin half centuries by Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif, which propped up the innings as India huffed and puffed its way to a modest 217 in the crucial fourth and penultimate ODI against the West Indies here today.

Put in to bat first, the Indian batsmen struggled against some tight bowling. Though Yuvraj (51) and Kaif (62) made fifty plus scores, India never looked easy as the run rate remained below four until the 46th over.

West Indies lead the five match series 2-1 and a win here will seal the series for them.

On a pitch that had decent bounce and carry, the Indian top order struggled to connect. West Indies pacers suffocated the Indian batsmen by their tight line and lenghth, which in turn made the them play some risky shots and caused their downfall.

India made a poor start losing 3 wickets for 47 runs. Virender Sehwag fresh from his St. Kitts blitz failed to capitalise on a good start. This was a wicket of his liking as the ball was coming nicely on to the bat. Sehwag announced his intentions with two well hit fours. But he failed to deliver falling LBW to Bradshaw for 11.

Clearly under pressure, Suresh Raina had a shorter stay at the crease. Bradshaw and Edwards didn't allow him any room to score. A flash outside off stump resulted in a thick edge to Sarwan and Raina was back in pavilion for 7.

West Indies grabbed the prized wicket of skipper Rahul Dravid who also fell trying to accelerate the score. Dravid tried to glide Collymore but could not beat the slip cordon where Sarwan took a brilliant low lying catch.

After Dravid's fall, Yuvraj and Kaif steadied the ship. Yuvraj back after missing last match looked at ease with attack. A beautifully timed flick on the leg side boundary announced his intentions. While hitting occasional boundaries, Yuvraj ran quick singles with Kaif and also turned singles into twos as the two batsmen kept the score board ticking.

The two added 50 runs for the fourth wicket in just 54 balls.

He was not found short of expectations as he reached his 25th fifty. Just when it looked Yuvraj has warmed up for a big knock, he too fell to a thin edge to keeper Baugh off Fidel Edwards.

He made 52 runs off 77 balls and hit four boundaries.

West Indies skipper introduced spinner Samuels from the far end and the right hand off spinner did not disappoint his skipper. He kept Indian scoring under tight leash giving way just 37 in his 10 overs as the Indians failed to break into run rate of four per over.

Kaif looked well set to pace his innings and laboured to his 16th ODI fifty. Kaif started taking chances after his fifty. He completely missed line of a slower ball from Bravo which saw his off stump uprooted. Kaif made 61 off 84 balls laced with five hits to the fence.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni known for his hard hitting remained quiet in presence of Kaif but after Kaif departed Dhoni opened up. He hit two straight drives off Bravo and Collymore to the ropes. Bravo bowled excellent an 49th over.

After being hit for four by Pathan, Bravo first deceived Pathan by a slower ball and then bowled three dot balls to Agarkar before bowling him out for a duck.

Dhoni scored 11 runs off the last over as India reached to 217 for seven. Dhoni remained not out on 46 off 58 balls with six fours.

Earlier, West Indies skipper Brian Lara won the toss and decided to field first.

India made one change from the last ODI, Yuvraj coming in for Venugopal Rao. West Indies made three changes bringing in Wavell Hinds, Dwayne Smith and Corey Collymore for Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Morton and Taylor.

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