India v West indies 3rd ODI,2007,Chennai

India paid the price for tinkering with the winning combination and some casual batting performance as the West Indies recorded a comfortable three-wicket victory in the third one-dayer to keep themselves afloat in the four-match series here today.

After restricting India to 268 in 48 overs on a good batting track, the visitors overhauled the target with 38 balls to spare in the day-night clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, reducing the hosts’ lead to 2-1.

Marlon Samuels struck a cavalier 98 from 95 balls, while skipper Brian Lara made a typically scintillating 83 to guide the Caribbeans home.

Lara, back in the side after missing the previous game with a knee injury, and Samuels put on a match-winning partnership of 127 runs for the fourth wicket.

Samuels reached his fifty off 42 balls with nine fours. He hit three more fours before edging Ajit Agarkar to Dinesh Karthik. Agarkar had given the Indians a promising by having Chris Gayle and Runako Morton in his first 10 balls.

Lara smashed 10 fours and two sixes before top-edging Ramesh Powar to Robin Uthappa.

India made as many as five changes to the team that won the previous match, in a bid to try out new players keeping the World Cup in mind but the move backfired with only Karnataka batsman Uthappa coming good.

India’s total could have been much better after being strongly placed at 232 for 3 in the 35th over.

Uthappa smashed 70 off 41 balls (11 fours, two sixes). He added 88 runs for the second wicket with Suresh Raina (23).

Thanks to the 21-year-old’s attacking batsmanship, India raced to 100 in 11.3 overs and 150 in the 20th over.

The right-hander, who reached his fifty off only 32 balls, fell while trying to loft Chris Gayle and ended up top-edging him to Lendl Simmons at long off.

Raina perished just when it seemed he had got his eye in, driving Jerome Taylor straight to Brian Lara at mid-off.

Tendulkar, who has been through a lean patch, played a smart innings in sustaining the momentum provided by Uthappa.

After reaching fifty off 52 balls, Tendulkar fell to a brilliant catch by Runako Morton who leaped to hold on to a mistimed drive at mid on.

Dravid was in a class of his own, too. The skipper was more open in his shot-making than his senior partner. He struck six fours in his 67-ball innings, his strokes balancing Tendulkar’s calmness at the other end.

The Bangalorean fell while going for a big shot against Gayle and was caught in the deep.

The twin dismissal of Tendulkar and Dravid allowed the Caribbeans to come back into the match. As it were, India could add only 36 runs in the next 13 overs while losing seven wickets.

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