India vs West Indies 2014, 2nd ODI at Delhi: Highlights

India registered a 48-run victory in the second One-Day International (ODI) against West Indies in Delhi. From being in a strong position in their run-chase of 264, West Indies crumbled and lost their last eight wickets for 45 runs. Nishad Pai Vaidya picks the highlights of the game.

Jerome Taylor sets up Shikhar Dhawan: Through the day, Jerome Taylor bowled with fire and threatened the batsmen with his variations in pace. Not only did he vary his pace, but also hit the right channels. Early in the innings, it was great to see the way he worked out Shikhar Dhawan. Bowling in the corridor of uncertainty, he created that gap between Dhawan’s bat and body with the ball a bit outside off-stump. And, then he got one to curl in that hit the top of off-stump.

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Ambati Rayudu walks in at No 3: Sunil Gavaskar had suggested in the lead-up to the match that Virat Kohli could be pushed down the order to No 4 or 5 so that he can avoid the new ball. With the early wicket, Ambati Rayudu walked in to bat and tried to build an innings on a slow pitch.

Virat Kohli gets fifty: It was a testing innings for Kohli, who has been battling demons in recent times. Kohli walked in at No 4, took his time to get in and built the innings. With Suresh Raina doing the attacking job, Kohli was sedate by his standards and worked the strike around. The smile on getting his fifty showed how important this fifty was for him. It is a good confidence booster for him after a lean run in recent times.

MS Dhoni’s surge at the death: West Indies bowlers had kept India in check in the slog overs. MS Dhoni battled some crafty bowling and the slow wicket to pick some crucial runs. In the last over, he smashed a six and a four to get to his half-century. That helped India take their score to 263 that looked competitive on this slow wicket.

Dwayne Smith sets the tone: Dwayne Smith looked in great touch and was hitting it quite well in the middle. Anything short was carted through the leg-side. He also played through the line a few times and sent them down the ground. He was also ready to hit it through the off-side. Smith’s innings had put West Indies on course.

Kieron Pollard at No 3: Another surprise at No 3 on the day. West Indies sent in Kieron Pollard with the platform in place. He started off sensibly, worked the strike around and then also smashed a few sixes. Pollard looked good and the great thing was that he was very sensible in the middle.

Marlon Samuels go-slow: Marlon Samuels, the centurion of the previous innings, stalled the West Indies innings. He kept blocking and couldn’t get the ball off the square. Amit Mishra troubled him quite a lot as he played out two maidens. His innings of 16 off 38 balls broke the momentum and one can say it cost the West Indies.

Amit Mishra’s spell: Mishra’s spell of two for 40 was worth its weight in gold. Though he was hit a few times, he maintained his calm and kept trying to flight it. Getting Pollard was a big scalp, but he also accounted for Denesh Ramdin, who is in great form. And, he also tied down Samuels, which got India back in the game.

Mohammed Shami’s four-for and Dwayne Smith’s wicket: Mohammed Shami followed his four-wicket haul of the first ODI with another in this game. He turned the game by bowling Smith on 97 and that came after he was hit for a six off the previous ball. West Indies crumbled from there on and lost their last eight wickets for 45.

Complete coverage of India vs West Indies 2014

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)