Champions Trophy: Dhawan, Jadeja take India to semi-finals
London : Shikhar Dhawan struck back-to-back ODI tons and Ravindra Jadeja bagged his maiden fifer to guide India to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy with a convincing eight-wicket win over the West Indies in Group B at The Oval here Tuesday.
Dhawan stroked his way to a fine unbeaten 102 and Dinesh Karthik remained not out on 51 as India, chasing a target of 234, made 236 for eight in 39.1 overs and moved to the top of the points table with four points from two matches.
Dhawan’s century overshadowed Jadeja’s exploits with his left-arm spin that restricted the West Indies to a modest 233 for nine in 50 overs.
Jadeja ripped apart the West Indies batting with his five for 22 and dismissed Johnson Charles (60), Marlon Samuels (1) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (1) all in a space of 14 balls.
But it was a cameo of unbeaten 56 off 35 balls by Darren Sammy that gave West Indies some hope.
But the hope was short-lived as Indian openers Dhawan and Rohit Sharma (52) went on scoring runs with ease and set the platform for the win with their 101-run first-wicket stand.
Dhawan and Rohit plundered the West Indies bowling for runs but were not reckless with their shots. Rohit was the first to go after the Windies bowling and he hit seven fours in his 56-ball innings.
It was spinner mystery spinner Sunil Narine (2/49), who gave West Indies something to cheer for by dismissing Rohit and Virat Kohli (22) in quick successions as India from a comfortable 101 for no loss were 127 for two.
But from then on, Dhawan and Karthik joined forces with their 109-run stand for the unfinished third wicket that took India home safely with 65 balls to spare.
Dhawan hit 10 fours and a six during his crafty 107-ball knock while Karthik smashed eight fours during his 56-ball stay.
Earlier, all-rounder Darren Sammy smashed an unbeaten 56 to lift West Indies to a respectable 233 for nine after they were reduced to 182 for nine.
Put in by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni under overcast conditions, West Indies lost Chris Gayle (21) early well caught at first slip by Ravichandran Ashwin off pace bowler Bhuvaneshwar Kumar.
Charles tried to keep up the momentum and was dominating in the Asecond-wicket partnership of 78 with Darren Bravo (35).
Charles smashed eight fours and two sixes, reaching his fifty from 46 balls before being trapped lbw by Jadeja.
Jadeja then removed Samuels lbw and had Sarwan caught by wicketkeeper Dhoni down the leg side that left West Indies at 109 for four.
Darren and his half brother Dwayne Bravo (25) tried to repair the innings but Darren paid heavily for his rash approach as he charged down the wicket to Ravichandran Ashwin and was easily stumped by Dhoni.
Indian fast bowlers turned the screw in the death overs and it looked West Indies would be all out inside 200 but Sammy’s onslaught, four sixes and five fours in 35 balls took the West Indies to a respectable total.
Sammy shared an an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 51 with Kemar Roach, who couldn’t contribute a single run.
Squad of both team :
West Indies Team : CH Gayle, KAJ Roach, RR Sarwan, MN Samuels, R Rampaul, DJ Bravo, DJG Sammy, KA Pollard, DM Bravo, SP Narine, Johnson Charles,
India Team : S Dhawan, RG Sharma, V Kohli, KD Karthik, MS Dhoni, SK Raina, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, B Kumar, U Yadav, I Sharma,
File Photo : AFP
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