India clinches series despite Pollard heroics

PTI

Chennai, 12 December 2011: Kieron Pollard’s stunning maiden century went in vain as India beat West Indies by 34 runs to win the fifth and final one-day to record an emphatic 4-1 series triumph here on Sunday. Electing to bat on a track where the ball was keeping low, India reached respectable 267 for five — courtesy Manoj Tiwary’s (104) first ODI century and a fine 80 by Virat Kohli.

 

It was Pollard whose magnificent power-hitting helped West Indies reach as close as 233 in 44.1 overs. Pollard hit as many as 10 sixes and four fours in his smashing knock of 119 off 110 deliveries. He was last man out in his bid to clear the long-off boundary where Ajinkya Rahane took a smart catch off Suresh Raina’s bowling. Such was his disappointment that he was finding it difficult to walk out.

 

 

While chasing, West Indies were pegged back by comeback man Irfan Pathan and Abhimanyu Mithun, who blew away the top four with only 36 on board. After Ravindra Jadeja removed Denesh Ramdin with scoreboard reading 78 for five, T20 specialist Pollard and all-rounder Andre Russell (53, 42 balls, 5x4, 3x6) launched a furious counter-attack adding 89 runs in only 79 deliveries.

 

Once Russell was run-out by a direct throw from stand-in skipper Gautam Gambhir, Pollard who was hitting sixes at will ran out of partners. It was match where both Pollard and Tiwary had a point to prove to their detractors that they belong to the top flight. The immensely talented Tiwary finally displayed his true potential as he scored his maiden century on a difficult track to help India reach a competitive 267 for five

 

The Bengal boy who has been in the fringes for quite some time and has never really done justice to his talent in the previous five ODI appearances, grabbed the opportunity with both hands to score 104 off 126 balls (10x4, 1x6) before he had to retire due to cramps.