As It Happened: India vs West Indies, 28th World Cup Match in Perth
Live cricket score and ball-by-ball commentary from the 28th World Cup match between India and West Indies at the W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth on Friday.
Defending champions India on Friday survived a scare before defeating a spirited West Indies by four wickets in a group league encounter to romp into the quarter-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup here with four wins on the trot. Catch all the highlights of the match here: (SCORECARD | POINTS TABLE)
Chasing a modest target of 183, India's top-order struggled due to poor shot selection before skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's composed unbeaten innings of 45 helped them reach the target in 39.1 overs and ensure their fourth consecutive win in the tournament.
However, it wasn't as commanding as the previous three wins as the batting was scrappy, the fielding shoddy with as many as four catches being dropped and the bowling lacking discipline at times with 16 wides during the West Indies innings.
By virtue of this victory, India stretched their winning run at the global event to eight matches stretching from 2011 edition's group league match against West Indies in Chennai. The eight wins thus equals the record of Sourav Ganguly-led team's effort during the 2003 edition in South Africa.
India vs West Indies - Live Score
Mohammed Shami is named the Man of the Match for his spell-bounding bowling spell. That is all we have for you from this game. Tomorrow is a double header. First up, Pakistan take on South Africa at 0630 IST from Auckland. Later on, Ireland will take on Zimbabwe at 0900 IST from Hobart. Till then it is goodbye from us!
A low score to chase can be tricky and India lost the early wickets of the trio of Dhawan, Rohit and Kohli. Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina tried to stem the flow of wickets but lost their wickets at crucial junctures. Dhoni, the man for crisis rose to the occasion and guided the team home along with Ashwin at the other end. West Indies suffer another gut-wrenching defeat.
A hard fought win but a win nonetheless! Indian juggernaut continues to roll, it is 4 in 4 now and there seems to be no stopping the Men in Blue. It was an excellent bowling display to keep West Indies to 182. Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav were consistent with the wickets and Mohit Sharma continued to impress with his discipline. The spinners chipped in with wickets as well and West Indies succumbed to a poor total on a very good batting track.
FOUR! That will do it! Dhoni comes forward for a prod but the ball takes the outside edge and runs past first slip, into the fence which gives India another win. They win by 4 wickets.
The batsman has played it fine down the leg side. The batsmen have run through for a single. Just 2 needed now.
FOUR! Punched! Short around off, plenty of time for Dhoni to rock back and hammer it through the covers.
Stays back and runs it nicely down to third man for a single.
Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Waits back and runs it down to third man off the outside edge, a second slip there would have snaffled it.
Short on middle, pulled down to fine leg for one.