WI choke at death in key India tie

Bowlers trigger a by-now familiar West Indian collapse to give India their first win of the series by 16 runs. Scorecard

Defending a meagre total of 163 runs, Indian bowlers triggered a by-now familiar West Indian collapse to give India their first win of the series by 16 runs in a low-scoring thriller and keep them on course for a berth in the DLF Cup final.

After a pathetic batting display that restricted India to a paltry 162 in 39.3 overs, the bowlers responded to the challenge magnificently to skittle out the Caribbeans for 146 in 40.5 overs in a must-win encounter at the Kinrara Oval.

The West Indies got off to a reasonably good start with openers Runako Morton and Shivnarine Chanderpaul putting on 42 runs for the first wicket before their wickets fell like a pack of cards.

Harbhajan Singh, the winner of the Man of the match award, was the pick of the bowlers with 3-35.

Munaf struck first to dismiss Chanderpaul and end match-threatening first wicket stand. The fast bowler struck again in his consecutive over to send back the new man Sarwan.

Following Munaf's double strike, Sreesanth sent Morton back to the pavilion for 27 runs.

There was a bit of a juggling in the slips with the ball bouncing off the hands of Rahul Dravid before it was safely pouched by Dhoni.

Agarkar then picked up the fourth wicket when he trapped Samuels leg before for five runs and soon after RP Singh followed suit when he caught Gayle plumb in front for one run.

Agarkar then added a second wicket to his tally as he trapped Dwayne Smith leg before for 12.

Earlier, India were bundled out for a meagre 162 in 39.3 overs, as barring Sachin, all other batsmen surrendered meekly to the Windies attack.

Besides Tendulkar's composed 65, Harbhajan Singh was the star performer of the day for India, excelling with the bat as well.

Needing a desperate win to remain alive in the competition, India got off to a disastrous start as West Indies pacer Dwayne Smith scythed through the top order.

After Smith ran through the top order, Bravo and Collymore joined in to add to India's agony and left the famed batting order in tatters.

Earlier, the fast bowler struck twice in consecutive overs to knock down India's two big guns cheaply.

He removed the Indian skipper in the very first over of the match for a duck and Virender Sehwag (1) was his second victim.

Suresh Raina, promoted up the order, put on 32 runs with Sachin Tendulkar, before he was caught by Chris Gayle at slip for 11.

Yuvraj Singh's indifferent form with the bat continued. He too was caught behind by Baugh for naught off a Smith delivery.

Corey Collymore bowled out Dhoni who was looking in good touch and had hit four fours for 18 runs.

Ajit Agarkar, too, was back in the pavilion soon as Dwayne Bravo bowled him for four.

Thereafter, Sachin and Harbhajan held fort to bail India out of the precarious situation with a 78-run partnership before the latter was dismissed by Gayle for a well-accumulated 37 which included 1 four and 2 sixes.

After Harbhajan got out, the onus of the Indian innings fell on Tendulkar's shoulders whose unfortunate run-out on 65 dashed India's hopes of reaching a competitive total.

Indian captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to bat against the West Indies in the fifth one-dayer.

Sreesanth came in ahead of Irfan Pathan as the team searched for more penetration in the pace department. The batting line-up was left undisturbed.

For West Indies, Morton finally got a game and Collymore took Jerome Taylor's place.

India: R Dravid, SR Tendulkar, V Sehwag, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, SK Raina, AB Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, MM Patel, RP Singh, S Sreesanth

West Indies: CH Gayle, S Chanderpaul, RR Sarwan, BC Lara, DJ Bravo, WW Hinds, RS Morton, MN Samuels, DR Smith, CS Baugh, CD Collymore