Bowlers may enjoy Kanpur conditions
The West Indies win in Vizag was just what the doctor ordered. What was turning out to be a pretty one- sided tour now has an edge to it, and the last game in Kanpur will be one which both teams will want to win not just because it is the decider, but also because both go on to another tour and would want to embark on those with a series win under their belts.
India’s bowling has been under the hammer for quite a while in limited overs cricket, and it was so once again as the West Indians, despite losing wickets at regular intervals, managed to have at least one well set batsman at the crease who could take them over the line.
It has been a pretty ordinary tour for the likeable Darren Sammy so far. The West Indies lost both the Tests, under his charge, inside three days where he himself failed with both bat and ball, and in the first one- dayer at Kochi, he did nothing to better that record. At Vizag though, he took a splendid low catch in the slips to get rid of the dangerous Rohit Sharma, and then, when the Windies wanted someone to take them home, he hit some big ones to ensure that the series went to the wire.
The West Indian batsmen looked much better on a pitch where there was not much turn for the bowlers. The Indian bowlers were also handicapped by the dew, which made it hard for them to grip the ball. The dew also meant that the ball skidded off the surface of the pitch, and that made batting easier for the Windies. Yet, the manner in which some of their well set batsmen got out would be worrying, for they should have stayed on till the end.
India too will have to look at their batting, which, apart from Rohit Sharma, Kohli and Dhoni, is short of runs. Kohli played superbly, and only his impetuosity prevented him from getting his 18th one- day century. Kanpur will be a lot milder as far as temperatures are concerned so the bowlers may enjoy it more than at the other venues.