Yuvraj's century leads India to victory

[minisoji]

KINGSTON: Yuvraj Singh slammed a brilliant 131 off 102 balls before India hung on for a 20-run victory over West Indies in a high-scoring first one-day cricket international at Sabina Park on Friday.

Yuvraj's 12th one-day century, spiced with 10 fours and seven sixes, set up India's mammoth total of 339-6 off 50 overs.

The home team battled gamely before being bowled out for 319 with 11 deliveries remaining.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul topscored with 63 off 59 balls.

Ashish Nehra claimed 3-49, including the final wicket, while offspinner Yusuf Pathan took 3-56.

Yuvraj (131, 102 balls, 7 sixes, 10 fours) and Karthik (77b, 1x6, 6x4) set the Indians on course for a big total with their 135-run third-wicket partnership. It was further consolidated by an 86-runs fourth-wicket stand between Yuvraj and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (41, 41 balls, 1x6, 1x4) off who earlier won the toss and decided to bat.

In the rear, Yusuf Pathan chipped in with 40 not out (38b, 2x6, 2x4) and Harbhajan Singh 21 not out (13b, 2x6) to swell the total to 339 for six.

The start, however, was not encouraging with both Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma succumbing to short-pitched deliveries, trying ambitious shots. Gautam top-edged a hook off Jerome Taylor and Sharma perished failing to control a pull off David Bernard.

Karthik dropped anchor and Yuvraj, too, was circumspect. The two quietly rotated the strike and once the spin was introduced, they piled on the pressure on the bowlers. Soon Yuvraj overtook Karthik who hit an amazing six paddle-scooping Bernard to reach his highest score in the ODIs before falling attempting the stroke again.

Yuvraj soon got into the top gear and there was no stopping him as he hit both Taylor and captain Chris Gayle for two sixes each. He then treated Lionel Baker in similar fashion, hitting the medium-pacer for two fours and a six to reach 98 and quick a single off Taylor saw him to his century. He cut loose and hit Taylor for two fours and a six in the same over.

When Benn and Gayle bowled in tandem the Indians hit the two for 70 runs in seven overs.

The Indians were into batting power play and the five overs fetched 62 runs in five overs, Yuvraj and Dhoni pulversing the attack, 37 coming off Taylor's two overs.

Just when the left-hander looked like putting the issue beyond the West Indies, piling up a huge total, Dwayne Bravo returned to dismiss him and next man Ravindra Jadeja off successive balls.

Yuvraj's spectacular innings came to an end when he was caught brilliantly down the legside by Denesh Ramdin diving to his right.

That set the Indians back as Dhoni was still struggling to connect his big shots and Yusuf Pathan also batted cautiously till the last five overs. Dhoni ran himself out trying to steal a single.

Pathan hit the first ball of the last over from Bravo for a six and Harbhajan clouted the last one into the stands to provide late flourish.

[nad064]

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