50 overs West Indies 211 for 9 (Bravo 60) v India
Some amateurish running from Danza Hyatt ended the only significant partnership of West Indies' innings, as they crumbled either side of that fourth-wicket stand to finish on 211 for 9 at a raucous Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Darren Bravo was once again their top scorer, but a mix of rash shot-selection and tight bowling crippled West Indies and put India on course for their 10th straight win at home.
India's inexperienced attack had none of the regular members of their World Cup-winning line-up but that didn't prevent an impressive performance. Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron showed off the pace for which they have made a name, Vinay Kumar's patented away-swinger was on display, and the spinners continued to give the selectors no reason to think of Harbhajan Singh.
Bravo and Hyatt had revived West Indies from 52 for 3 after each of India's quick bowlers nipped out a wicket in their first spell. It wasn't the most fluent of stands - R Ashwin dropped a tough caught-and-bowled chance off Bravo, and Hyatt had starting trouble - but they stuck together for more than 16 overs to add 75.
Bravo's innings was sprinkled with several easy-on-the-eye boundaries, including a predictably large chunk of runs through cover. Hyatt had more problems early on, needing 36 deliveries to get to double-digits for only the second time in his six ODI innings. Whether he was aware of that or not, he dispatched the next delivery after he reaching 10 for a six.
The runs came easier for Hyatt after that, before he casually jogged back for a second in the 27th over, though his partner Bravo was rooted at the non-striker's end screaming that he didn't want two. Hyatt was run out for 31, and any semblance of momentum was taken away from the West Indian innings.
After a glut of singles, Bravo had another reprieve in the 35th over, before Suresh Raina got one to stay low and knock over the off stump. Kieron Pollard highlighted his weak credentials against spin, holing out to long-on off Ashwin for 13. With the big names gone, the lower order hobbled during the final phase of the innings, with the clever change of pace from Umesh and Aaron, and the nagging accuracy of the slower bowlers tying them down.
The slow death in the final third was in contrast to the more dramatic crash-and-burn at the start of the innings. Adrian Barath played some typically flashy strokes early on before nicking an away-going delivery from Vinay. Lendl Simmons shrugged off his six initial scoreless overs, cracking a straight drive for four and following that up with a six over long-on. Both he and Marlon Samuels, who adopted an unusually open stance, can expect a talking to from Desmond Haynes after falling to awful strokes - Samuels looking to swipe to midwicket, and Simmons was bowled after attempting an apology of a cut shot.
Not only does West Indies' total look insufficient, they also have to contend with plenty of dew - if predictions are correct - and possibly the largest crowd they have played in front of.
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