Chepauk: The score-line reads 4-1 in favour of India, but anyone who followed the series would know stats can be misleading. Except for the 4th ODI, West Indies ensured that India did not have a walk in the park in the series and that is what transpired at the M.A. Chidambaram stadium as well. For the stats, India sealed victory by 34 runs and with it the series, 4-1.

Ind vs WI 5th ODI

Cricket scorecard

India were propelled by a valiant yet classy maiden century by Manoj Tiwary (104) and for West Indies, the sleeping giant, Keiron Pollard (119) finally woke up from his slumber to power Windies closer to the Indian target.

As Ajinkya Rahane ran towards his teammate after completing a tough catch off Pollard, the big hitter sat down in the middle absolutely gutted. Rahane's expression exemplified how the series went for India; dominating yet a sense of relief after every game. Pollard’s reaction at the other end was of so close yet so far.

It was a dead rubber and incidentally, the entire series was dubbed so as well. But it was not to be. Stakes were high for individuals at both ends. Comeback man Irfan Pathan had a point to prove; and he did return with decent figures of 9-1-42-2 with an economy of 4.66. Kieron Pollard was running out of time to justify his place in the squad and after the insane knock of 119 off just 110 balls (4x4, 6x10) no one would bother to ask him that again. Before the series, Rohit Sharma was labeled as a wasted talent but he got his redemption taking away the man of the series award.

Manoj Tiwary after being in the fringes for too long was given a rare opportunity and he grabbed it with both hands with a maiden century to his name; a century he dedicated to the people who lost their lives in the unfortunate AMRI hospital fire in Kolkata. Parthiv Patel, who was in the squad for MS Dhoni would know that he has quashed many chances to justify his place. Darren Sammy, the captain has always been the talk rather than the Darren Sammy the all-rounder and this series was no aberration. And what to say about the stand-in captain Virender Sehwag!!!

Back to the final game of the series, the run chase seemed to be done and dusted with when Windies were reeling 75/5. A usual position for the visitors as their top order crumbled once again. Irfan Pathan and Abhimanyu Mithun had done the early damage with two wickets each. After the fifth wicket, Andre Russell walked in to join Pollard. The duo then set about counter attacking the Indian spinners. For the first time in the series, spinners where on the firing line and Pollard went hammer and tongs on Jadeja.

Rahul Sharma though held his nerve and bowled well. To his credit Pollard failed to get any sixes off Rahul’s bowling. Soon after Russell started to match Pollard shot to shot and Gambhir had his work cut out. The duo’s partnership of 89 balls came off just 79 balls weith a run rate of 6.75. As has been the case, Winides had enjoyed certain period of the match all throughout the series and the period when these two were batting certainly belonged to the visitors.

Between the 16th and the 30th over, Gauti tried every bowler but to no avail as like a Formula One car, the Windies innings was picking up to the top gear and the Indian had no answers to it. To Pollard and Russell’s credit who lack in the technique which was shown by Tiwary early on, both of them scored heavily inside the conventional V hinting that they were playing with a straight back. In a pitch which is slow and the bounce unpredictable, going straight was the best option and they did it regularly. The only downfall for the West Indian was the failing of the top order. Umpire Sudhir Asnani though came up with two big howlers which went against the Windies.

POST MATCH PRESENTATION

Virender Sehwag: I am very happy with the way we played in this series. I asked each and everybody if they wanted a break, but nobody wanted it, so in the end, I had to take the break. It has been a good recent run for us especially at home and we will look to do better in the upcoming tours. It has been really nice to captain this side.

Rohit Sharma: I am pleased with my efforts. It was a difficult start to my career. I am stroking the ball well in the recent past and the runs have been coming. But whatever has happened has happened. I was batting well in West Indies and had an unfortunate injury. I am pretty fit now and I am looking forward to the future. All the youngsters are coming up really well and we are looking to continue in the same vein in the future.

Rohit Sharma is the MoS for his 305 runs at 76.25

Tiwary: I am pleased with my effort. I am thankful that I had players like Gautam and Virat to support me. It was really nice to score a hundred. The team has backed me really well and has supported me throughout. It was a nice feeling to reach the hundred. I want to dedicate this century to all those who were killed in the tragic fire accident in Kolkata day before yesterday.

Manoj Tiwary is the MoM for his maiden ODI hundred

Sammy: Congrats to Pollard for his first hundred. It was a treat to watch. We have been playing some good cricket throughout the series, but we did not get the results in our favour. I am pleased with the never say die spirit of my team and I am thankful for the way they have supported me. We have enjoyed playing in India and I am sure that we have treated the crowd well here. Congrats to Sehwag and his team for the victory.

Teams

India: Gautam Gambhir (c), Parthiv Patel, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Manoj Tiwary, Abhimanyu Mithun, Rahul Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Irfan Pathan.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (c), Lendl Simmons, Kieran Powell, Marlon Samuels, Jason Mohammed, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Kemar Roach, Suniel Narine and Anthony Martin.

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