Thaindian News

St John’s (Antigua), June 11 (IANS) Andre Russell smashed an unbeaten 92 off 64 balls and powered West Indies to 225 for eight against India in the third One-day International cricket match here Saturday.

West Indies were reduced to 96 for seven at one stage before all-rounder Russell led the charge with a brilliant batting display.

Leg spinner Amit Mishra (3/28) and pacer Munaf Patel (3/60) caused the damage and India were looking to wrap up West Indies for a smaller total.

Russell and Carlton Baugh (36) then added 78 runs for the eighth wicket.

Russell smacked the bowlers all over the park in the death overs. Captain Suresh Raina was clobbered for 22 runs in the penultimate over. Russell hit eight fours and five towering sixes as West Indies, who are 0-2 down in the five match series reached a respectable total.

At one stage, West Indies lost as many as six wickets for only 31 runs.

After being put to bat, West Indies kept on losing wickets with Indian bowlers taking full advantage of the slow surface.

Although there was a 65-run second wicket partnership between Lendl Simmons (45) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (28), but runs came at a slow pace.

Once the partnership was broken when Sarwan was run-out, the West Indies middle order caved in.