Yuvraj rues fielding errors

In victory, and in defeat, Yuvraj Singh wore the same expression. With his team having come a full circle after a comprehensive mauling on Tuesday, Yuvraj didn't look for excuses. A point he repeatedly made was that of India A's fielding and more pertinently, the dropped catches that allowed West Indies A to get away to a score of 279.

Jonathan Carter was the beneficiary of a regulation drop at slip when on 6, pushing at a delivery from the left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem to Yusuf Pathan who juggled the ball and failed to hang on in the second attempt. At 66, Carter had another life when he was sent back by his partner attempting a quick single, only for the throw from cover to miss the stumps with Carter well short of the crease. Leon Johnson survived a tough chance at slip, but the full impact of the Carter let-off bit them when he smashed 133 and shared a 131-run stand with Johnson for the fifth wicket.

Catching aside, India's sloppiness extended to their ground fielding where at least three boundaries were conceded by schoolboy errors. India were guilty of leaking 135 runs in the last 15 overs.

"We know we didn't field well. That's the reason the target was 280 and not 260," Yuvraj said. "If we want to do well day after tomorrow, we have to do well on the park - as simple as that. And obviously, dropping Carter's catch - he got a hundred. We didn't bowl well in the last ten overs."

The overcast morning conditions had prompted both captains to bowl first in the first two games, but ironically, it backfired in both. India piled on 312 in the first game and West Indies 279 in the second and the chasing side never got close. Asked if he would change the pattern in the third ODI if given the chance, Yuvraj said it may not be such a straightforward decision going forward.

"I hope I lose the toss. Looking at the conditions, you want to bowl first," he said. "We didn't get enough wickets at the start. The dropped catch didn't help. So I just hope I lose the toss and win the game."

Yuvraj said his side was tied down by some intelligent bowling by West Indies, who didn't let them build any solid partnerships. A stand of 64 for the third wicket between Yuvraj and Unmukt Chand was the best they could manage.

"I think they bowled in really good areas, and they didn't allow us to score freely," Yuvraj said. "That's the game. When pressure is created, it's tough to score. We never had a good partnership, which would have allowed us to go through."