Hope and Nurse helped WI draw level with India…
Not much is written about WI cricket of late because of their woeful performances in International Cricket in modern times. But if anyone thinks this series with India was going to be one-sided affair, they will have to think again. You’d be forgiven however, for thinking so, after the thrashing WI got in the Test series. So far we’ve had an Indian win, a tie and, now, a West Indies win. WI 283 /9 India 240 all out after 47.4 Overs. West Indies winning by 43 runs.
First time ever that India have lost a game at home when Kohli has scored a century, and only the second time anywhere in the world it has happened. But this game was really an exposure of an old ailment in the Indian ODI team: an underexposed middle order. Rohit and Dhawan failed in this third ODI, and that meant the middle order was tested. WI on the other hand showed some hope for their ODI chances after been left out of the last World Cup and having to play qualifiers in order to be on the world stage for the next World Cup.
Great game for Ashley Nurse that earned him man of the match honors, It was him who boosted West Indies total to 283/9 with a late onslaught and then grabbed two wickets. Others chipped in to help come away with the win; Holder produced a ripper to get Rohit Sharma, and then got MS Dhoni edging behind. Not to forget Shai Hope’s measured 95 as he held up one end and built the innings while India chipped away. “Whatever’s required for the team says Shai Hope, I had to put up my hand.” Samuels did very little with the bat but picked up the important wickets of Kohli and Bumrah to close off the win.
Captain Jason Holder says, “Credit to the boys. I thought we played an outstanding game, It was important to go deeper for me, something to learn there, but credit to the guys. We hung in the game, which was very important. Nurse was outstanding, I know what to expect from him, so it was good to see him get wickets and keep things tight. I think the guys are learning better.” They will start the fourth game level one all with India at Mumbai Monday October 29th.
###
