Poor batting costs Bravo and company

News

Cricket365
November 22, 2013

Captain Dwayne Bravo rued a poor performance with the bat, after the West Indies lost to India by six wickets in Thursday's first ODI at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

The decision to bat first after winning the toss should have brought better, but the Windies instead managed a mere 211 all out in 48.5 overs.

A patient 59 from the left-handed Darren Bravo and a quickfire 42 from opener Johnson Charles were the lone highlights, as host spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina shared eight instrumental wickets.

India's reply was relatively straightforward, with a commanding 86 from Man of the Match Virat Kohli and a complementary 72 from opener Rohit Sharma ensuring triumph with all of 88 balls to spare.

"We fell short of our batting target. We felt we were below par. We have to take responsibility for this. We didn't adjust to the style of play. It's not a 300 or 290 wicket, if you can get to 250 it could have been a bit different." said Bravo.

"We got out at the wrong time. I think it's a very small ground, so our batters are aggressive by nature, so when the field is spread or the spinners come on, we don't have the ability to rotate the strike. Batting first and posting a poor total is not good enough."

Rohit, meanwhile, conceded his innings could have reached higher proportions – had shoddy shot selection not taken its toll in the 25th over of the pursuit. The hard-hitting right-hander ultimately holed out to deep midwicket, with seamer Ravi Rampaul's additional bounce impressing.

"As you must have seen it was just not easy to play your strokes, so it was important to take some time out and see what is happening and what the wicket looks like. I played a bad shot, I must accept that, but that shot was really on as I was batting well," added Sharma.

"I was thinking if Rampaul was bowling back of length, then I must go through with that shot, even when it skidded to me. We put pressure and fielded well to make the batsmen play shots, even if the wicket did not allow it. Even the fast bowlers bowled well initially."

The second ODI – in the three-match series – will get underway at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Pothanamallayapalam, Visakhapatnam on Sunday.