Russell, Bravo shine bright

• Handsome win for Windies in final ODI
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Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Fast bowler André Russell and middle-order batsman Darren Bravo produced career-best performances yesterday to help guide the West Indies to an exciting seven-wicket win over India in the fifth and final match of the Digicel Pearls one-day international series at Sabina Park.

The impressive Russell, who since the third match of the series has been outstanding with both bat and ball, claimed Man-of-the Match figures of four for 35, while Bravo hit a shot-filled 86 as the West Indies, set 252 to win, achieved their target for the loss of three wickets.

The victory ensured that the West Indies won the last two matches after India clinched the series by taking the first three matches. Importantly for the home team, it gave them a winning momentum heading into next Monday's start of the first Test between both teams, which will be played at the same venue.

"It's tremendous to see how the team has responded over the last two matches, as despite losing the series we kept on fighting. It's a testimony that we have what it takes in us to do well, and it is just for us to get it right," said West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

"We just hope we can build on this performance and get off to a positive start in the Test series, where we believe that despite our recent showings we can come out on top."

Set a total which many believed would pose a big challenge to the West Indies, the home team got off to a slow start when the in-form Lendl Simmons was caught for six with the score on 12.

This brought to the crease the experienced Ramnaresh Sarwan, who from the first ball he faced looked positive with boundaries through the on and off sides, and together with Adrian Barath put on 41 for the second wicket before Barath, playing down the wrong line to a googly, was adjudged leg before wicket.

Bravo then came to the crease and after a tentative start he, ballooned in confidence, and together with Sarwan put on 103 for the third wicket before the latter, after picking up a injury, had to retire hurt on 72 with the score on 156 for two, and the team needing another 75 runs off 12 overs.

This meant that the otherwise brittle West Indies middle order needed to come good in the final overs, and they did just that.

Unleashing a flurry of boundaries, which were greeted with wild celebrations from the fairly good crowd that was on hand, Bravo, who was joined by Samuels, stepped up the tempo, and together the two took the score 213 before Bravo, going for his hundred, was stumped by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel.

Bravo's knock was an innings which truly delighted the spectators. Coming off 99 balls, it included six well-struck sixes and three fours.

Samuels, who was happy to play the supporting role during his partnership with Bravo, then showed that he could change gears and together with Kieron Pollard kept the Indians on the back foot with several crowd-pleasing boundaries on their way to finishing the match.

Accurate bowling

Samuels, who at the end of the game rushed over to the Appleton Mound to shake the hand of sidelined opener Chris Gayle, finished with 24 off 29 balls, including three fours, while Pollard hit a six and three fours in making 24 of 23 deliveries.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra, with two for 46 off his maximum 10 overs, took most wickets for the visitors.

Earlier, India's total, which could have been larger given the fact that they were at one stage 190 for four with 13.1 overs remaining, was limited as a result of some quick and accurate bowling from Russell.

He was best supported by fellow fast man Kemar Roach and medium pacer Pollard, who claimed two wickets each, while leg-spinner Anthony Martin, bowling flat and economical leg spin, took one for 39 off his 10 overs. Virat Kohli, with 94, made most runs for India.

"It's not the way we wanted to end the series, but credit to the West Indies, they fought well," said India captain Suresh Raina.

India's Rohit Sharma was named Man of the Series for his aggregate of 257 runs in the five matches.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA (50 overs maximum)

S. Dhawan c Sarwan b Roach 11+P. Patel c Martin b Russell 6V. Kohli run out (+Baugh/Sarwan) 94M. Tiwary c wk Baugh b Pollard 22R. Sharma b Martin 57S. Raina c Barath b Pollard 0Y. Pathan c wk Baugh b Russell 30R. Ashwin not out 8A. Mishra b Russell 0R. Vinay Kumar c wk Baugh b Roach 2I. Sharma b Russell 0Extras (lb1, w19, nb1) 21Total (all out, 50 overs) 251

Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Patel, 3.4 overs); 2-21 (Dhawan, 6.6); 3-79 (Tiwary, 15.6); 4-189 (Kohli, 35.6); 5-190 (Raina, 36.5); 6-225 (R. Sharma, 42.6); 7-245 (Pathan, 45.2); 8-246 (Mishra, 45.3); 9-249 (Vinay Kumar, 46.6)

Bowling: Roach 10-0-52-2 (w3);Sammy 6-0-48-0 (w3); Russell 8.3-0-35-4 (nb1, w4); Pollard 8-0-39-2 (w2); Martin 10-1-39-1 (w1); Simmons 5-0-37-0 (w6)

WEST INDIES (target: 252 off 50 overs)

L. Simmons c Mishra b Vinay Kumar 6A. Barath lbw b Mishra 17R. Sarwan retired hurt 75D.M. Bravo st P. Patel b Mishra 86M. Samuels not out 28K. Pollard not out 24Extras (lb9, w9, nb1) 19Total (3 wkts, 48.4 overs) 255

K. Pollard, +C. Baugh Jr, A. Russell,D. Sammy, K. Roach, A. Martin did not bat

Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Simmons, 4.2 overs); 2-53 (Barath, 15.2); 2-156 (Sarwan, retired hurt, 17.6); 3-213 (Bravo, 45.1)

Bowling: Vinay Kumar 9-2-46-1; I. Sharma 9.4-0-49-0 (w2); Mishra 10-1-46-2 (nb1, w1); Ashwin 10-1-50-0 (w2);Raina 6-0-35-0 (w2); Pathan 1-0-7-0 (w1); Kohli 3-0-13-0 (w1)

Result: West Indies won by seven wickets

Series: India win five-match series 3-2

Toss: India

Man of the Match: A. Russell (West Indies)

Man of the Series: R. Sharma (India)

Umpires: I. Gould, N. Malcolm

TV umpire: G. Brathwaite

Match referee: J. Crowe