CUTTACK – India withstood a lethal early burst from pacers Kemar Roach and Andre Russell, to sneak home by one wicket with seven balls to spare, in a tense opening One-Day International against West Indies yesterday.
Chasing 212 for victory at the Barabati Stadium, India plunged to a precarious 59 for five in the 12th over, after Roach (3-46) and Russell(2-29) wiped out the top order to send five wickets tumbling for 22 runs.
However, Rohit Sharma stroked 72 in an 83-run, sixth wicket stand with Ravindra Jadeja who got 38, to stitch up the innings and put India back in the hunt.
Even when Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin (6) fell in quick succession to let West Indies back into the game, Sharma anchored a 42-run, eighth-wicket stand with Vinay Kumar (18) to put India on the brink of victory. (CMC)
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