 The second ODI between West Indies and India will be played at the Port
of Spain on June 8. This will be the second of the five games after the Indians
had taken a 1-0 lead over the West Indian side by winning the first ODI at the
same venue earlier on Monday.
It was a hard fought win despite the margin suggesting otherwise. West Indies
failed to score too many off the Indian spinners, struggling for most part of
the innings and got to only 214. There were half centuries from the bats of
Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels but the rest of the side failed to capitalise
on the start and the required push wasn't got towards the end of the innings.
While Sarwan did say that the side was missing the capabilities of the batsman
in Chris Gayle, there was no doubt that the absence of Kieron Pollard
was also surprising.
Click for Live Score Card of India Vs West Indies
Pollard could have made all the difference by hitting out towards the end and
propelling the score towards 235 but his poor form in the IPL seemed to have hurt
his chances. One feels that he may get a chance to play in this second ODI.
The Indians, on the other hand, laboured to the win but will generally be happy
with the result. They struggled to get going at the start of the innings, with
the likes of Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli getting out early but once
Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma got a move on, they were able to get
moving.
Kohli's problems, and something that will not go away in the second ODI, are based
on the slow nature of the pitch which has meant that he has struggled to play
his free-flowing game. He will need to adjust to the pitch and try and get going
with the batting.
The Indian bowling was good for most part except when the West Indian side tried
to attack their fifth bowler. Suresh Raina's six overs proved to be the saving
grace as he conceded only 23 off them and picked up two wickets - something to
go with his 50-ball 43.
Raina's bowling will be crucial, as would Yusuf Pathan's because if the side does
not get a good start with the ball in their hand, these third or fourth change
bowlers will be ones to take the heat.
India will still be favourites to make it 2-0.
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