Though the Indian batting faltered sparking debates on the no.4 spot once more, but their magnificent bowling line-up left no stones unturned to seal a well-deserved victory against the Windies - Googly Mania

		
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
								
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
							
				
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
				
		
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

	
        

        
        

        
        

	
        

        
        
		














		

    

    
        
        
        

Bowling the Windies Away

The West Indies team may have the track record of big hitters and some classy wicket-takers, but this World Cup they have been falling short of several teams and are on the verge of getting knocked out of the tournament. On the other hand, the Indian team has delivered some crucial fights, living up to the expectations of not just the nation but the world. On 27th June, when the Indians took on the West Indies, though the Indian batting faltered sparking debates on the no.4 spot once more, but their magnificent bowling line-up left no stones unturned to seal a well-deserved victory against the Windies.

Deciding to bat first, openers K.L. Rahul (48 out; 64b; 6X4) and Rohit Sharma (18 out; 23b; 1X4, 1X6) were going steadily until in the 6th over Kemar Roach ended the partnership. The wicket sparked a lot of confusion on whether the ball touched the bat or the pads of Rohit Sharma, as it passed close to both at the same time and the ultrasound showed a massive jerk but one of the DRS angle showing a gap, but Sharma had to go. Captain Virat Kohli (72 out; 82b; 8X4) along with Rahul kept pushing the scoreboard, until Rahul’s departure. The much talked about no.4 batsmen Vijay Shankar (14 out; 19b; 3X4) and at 5 Kedar Jadhav (7 out; 10b; 1X4) failed to create an impact and failed to even provide some support to the skipper as well. With MS Dhoni coming to crease, Kohli would have found a partner, but Windies captain fittingly ends Kohli’s further journey. Dhoni along with Hardik Pandya (46 out; 38b; 5X4) batted almost till the end of the innings, just Hardik falling short at 49th over to Sheldon Cottrell. Former captain and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni (56 not out; 61b; 3X4, 2X6) went on to bat till the end and ended the innings with a six to settle 268 on board for India with the loss of 7 wickets.

The Indian bowling led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami at front, with pace attack, have been infectious to watch. Added with the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, West indies were finding it hard to score. Mohammed Shami’s brilliance was once more seen on the pitch, when in the 5th and 7th over he scalped both vice-captain Chris Gayle (6 out; 19b; 1X4) and keeper Shai Hope (5 out; 10b; 1X4). With Sunil Ambris (31 out; 40b; 2X4) and Nicholas Pooran (28 out; 50b; 2X4) looking slightly dangerous, Hardik Pandya was sent to restrict, and he delivered with the wicket of Ambris. The middle order also collapsed, consuming too many balls and eventually getting out. With captain Jason Holder (6 out; 13b) on crease, he and Shimron Hetmeyer (18 out; 29b; 1X4) could have taken the game away, but with Kohli’s double field set-up and advice to Chahal; he bowls to Holder and Holder hitting the ball over the first fielder, and the double being Kohli himself takes the catch. The champion bowler, Jasprit Bumrah in the 27th over gets back-to-back wickets of Carlos Brathwaite and Fabian Allen but Kemar Roach defended the hat-trick chance well. Mohammed Shami in the 35th over, dismisses the batsmen Oshane Thomas (6 out; 11b; 1X4), finished the game and his spell with 4 wickets in his 6.2 overs with an economy rate of just 2.53 as India stays unbeaten so far in the tournament.

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