Windies crash again

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

West Indies were pounded in the second one-day international (ODI) yesterday as India executed clinically in all departments to carve out a seven-wicket win and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Sent in to bat, West Indies collapsed to a disappointing 240 for nine from their 50 overs, after seemingly set for an imposing total, and their bowlers could do precious little as India romped to their revised target of 183, following a near 45-minute break for rain.

Elegant Virat Kohli pummelled 81 from 103 balls while Parthiv Patel cracked 56 from 64 balls, providing the platform for India's successful run chase that ended with 20 balls of the revised quota of 37 overs still remaining.

Earlier, Ramnaresh Sarwan (56) and Lendl Simmons (53) both stroked half-centuries, but West Indies suffered a dramatic collapse late on, to stutter to their eventual total.

stunned audience

Cruising at 175 for two in the 36th over, West Indies lost five wickets for 22 runs in the space of 46 balls, to lose their way at 197 for seven before a stunned crowd at Queen's Park Oval.

They then needed captain Darren Sammy's cameo 19-ball, unbeaten 22 at the end, to reach a competitive score.

West Indies started positively, with Simmons posting 57 for the first wicket with Kirk Edwards who hit 25.

Simmons found an ally in Sarwan in adding a further 67 for the second wicket. Caught behind off a no-ball from Munaf on 20 at 37 without loss, the right-handed Simmons countered well with three fours and two leg-side sixes.

After reaching his fifth half-century in six ODI innings, he lunged at off-spinner Yusuf Pathan (2-51) and was stumped at 124, but Marlon Samuels strode to the wicket to carve out an elegant 36 from 32 balls, with three fours and a six.

sweetly timed shots

He dominated a 51-run, third-wicket partnership, rolling out an array of sweetly timed shots, none better than a majestic cover drive off Mishra.

Like Simmons, however, his exuberance got the better of him, and he too was stumped charging at Pathan at the end of the 36th over at 175 for three.

His dismissal then triggered a disastrous collapse as the Windies batsmen resorted to mindless batting.

West Indies struck early when pacer Rampaul had Shikhar Dhawan caught at point by Pollard for three off the first ball of the third over, with the score on eight.

There was to be no more immediate success for the Windies, however, as Kohli and and Parthiv Patel put on 120 for the second wicket to put the result virtually beyond doubt.