India fend off spirited Windies to clinch four-wicket win in WC tie

Sydney, Mar 06 (ANI): Defending champions India overcame a spirited West Indies side by four wickets to clinch their fourth successive win of the ongoing World Cup tournament on Friday at Perth. Opting to bat first, the West Indies batting line-up stuttered against a disciplined Indian bowling attack and eventually bundled out for a paltry 182 runs. Opener Dwayne Smith (6) and Chris Gayle (21) failed to provide initial thrust as both fell cheaply off Mohammad Shami's deliveries. Veteran batsman Marlon Samuels (2) soon trudged back to the pavilion as he got run out while trying to take a single off Gayle's mistimed shot. West Indies kept losing wickets at regular juncture and subsequently were reeling at 85-7 in the 25th over. However, skipper Jason Holder provided some resistance and scored his second consecutive half-century of the tournament. Holder (57) found an able ally in Jerome Taylor (11) as the duo posted a much-needed 51-run stand for the ninth wicket. Shami, who returned from injury, was the pick of the bowlers for India as he scalped three wickets, including of Darren Sammy (26). While Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav captured two wickets each, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohit Sharma took one wickets each. Chasing a modest target, India also a failed to get a good start as both openers Rohit Sharma (7) and Shikhar Dhawan (9) fell prey to Taylor's deliveries. However, Indian star batsman Virat Kohli (33) tried to steady the innings as he along with Ajinkya Rahane (14) put a 43-run partnership for the third wicket before their respective dismissals. Suresh Raina also failed to convert a good start into a big score as he caught by Denesh Ramdin off Smith's delivery for 22 runs. Following the dismissal of Jadeja (13), skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (45*) and Ashwin (16*) remained unbeaten as they stacked up a 51-run partnership for the seventh wicket to guide India to victory with 65 balls remaining. Shami was named the Man-of-the Match for his impressive match figures of three wickets for 35 runs, including two maidens. (ANI)