All-rounder Hardik Pandya and chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav yet again proved very effective in the middle overs as India restricted West Indies to a modest 189 for nine in the fourth cricket One-day International, here today.
Coming into the must-win match, West Indies elected to bat and were off to a steady start but lacked character for a flourishing finish against the visitors, who now look set to clinch the series.
Openers Evin Lewis (35) and Kyle Hope (35) put on 57 runs in a steady start for the hosts before young Pandya (3/40) broke the partnership by getting rid of the latter.
Kuldeep, who has looked impressive from the beginning of his debut, made life tough tough for the West Indies batsmen with his stock ball and googlies.
Lewis tried to open his arms, going for a drive off Kuldeep, but the ball turned a bit and went straight to captain Virat Kohli at mid-wicket.
With Pandya and Kuldeep (2/31) bowling in tandem accurate lines, the hosts found the going tough. Lack of application from the home batsmen made the job easier for India.
Paceman Umesh Yadav (3/36) also contributed in cleaning up the middle over by scalping three batsmen.
Once the openers departed it got worse for the West Indies, which needed a good partnership and a batsman, who could stay on the crease for a longer period.
The chinaman bowler struck for the second time when he deceived Roston Chase (25) in the air and the ball clipped the bails, leaving the team at 121 for there in 31.2 overs.
The hosts maintained a decent run-rate but now they needed to accelerate to present some challenge before the formidable batting line-up.
Pandya returned and dismissed wicket-keeper Shai Hope (25) by having him caught behind and soon Umesh Yadav had his first victim in rival captain Jason Holder (11).
Half the team was back in pavilion. The responsibility to get the side a fighting total was on Jason Mohammed and Rovman Powell.
However both of them departed soon. Powell, attempting to hit one hard from Umesh, miscued one to Ravindra Jadeja while Mohammed hit straight to Jadeja while slashing one from Pandya.
Umesh troubled the tail-enders Devendra Bishoo (15) and Ashley Nurse (4) with his fast and rising deliveries. One such ball hurried on to Nurse took an edge and Umesh caught it diving to his follow right.
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