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Russell’s brutal assault boosts Windies

NORTH SOUND, Antigua and Barbuda - A late brutal assault by big-hitting Andre Russell led West Indies to 225 for eight in the third one-day international against India on Saturday.

Russell smashed eight fours and five sixes in a dazzling, unbeaten 92 from 64 balls to finish with the highest innings by a West Indies batsman at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, and bringing respectability to the home team’s batting effort.

His efforts came after Amit Mishra and Munaf Patel had undermined the West Indies who went into the clash having lost the first two games of the five-match series.

Mishra followed-up on his career-best bowling in the second one-dayer with three for 28 from his 10 overs, and Munaf supported with three for 60 from his 10 overs, as the West Indies’ frontline batting suffered another crisis of confidence.

The Indians, choosing to field, met token resistance from the West Indies top-order before all-rounder Russell, one of three changes to his side’s line-up, transformed the complexion of the innings.

The visitors had taken a firm grip of the game, following a second-wicket stand of 65 between Lendl Simmons - with 45 off 68 balls - and Ramnaresh Sarwan - 28 off 38 balls.

Mishra triggered another West Indies batting collapse after Sarwan was run out in the 15th over, six wickets falling for 31 between the 15th and 30th over.

But India’s grip was loosened when Russell dominated the next two partnerships - 78 from 96 balls for the eighth wicket with Carlton Baugh, and 51 - unbroken - from the last 28 balls of the innings for the ninth wicket with Kemar Roach.

With Mishra having completed his spell by the 28th over, and Harbhajan bowling a miserly, eight-over opening spell, India turned to the part-time bowlers like Yusuf Pathan and their captain Suresh Raina, both of whom proved to be fodder for Russell.

Two off-side boundaries - a slap through cover, and a thick edge to third man - off Praveen Kumar’s eighth over got Russell into stride.

But successive sixes high over mid-wicket off Pathan’s uncomplicated off-spin in the 40th over helped Russell turn the tide.

The visitors bowled with discipline to limit the damage in the batting power play overs between the 42nd and 46th overs, but Raina got some harsh treatment in the penultimate over of the innings that cost 22, when Russell struck two fours and two sixes - all in the arc between mid-wicket and long-on.

Kumar succeeded in keeping things quiet for the first four deliveries of the final over before Russell carted him for a six and a four off the last two balls, surpassing Brian Lara’s 77 against Australia in the 2007 World Cup as the best score by a West Indies batsman at the ground.

India were unchanged for the third straight match, but the West Indies brought ODI newcomer Danza Hyatt, as well as Russell and fellow fast bowler Roach in to replace Dwayne Bravo, Anthony Martin, and Ravi Rampaul.

The visitors lead the five-match series 2-0, following a four-wicket victory in the first ODI last Monday at Queen’s Park Oval, where they won the second ODI by seven wickets two days later.

India are looking to take an unbeatable lead in the series, and can take comfort in the knowledge that West Indies have never won any of the four ODIs they have played at the VRCG.