India v West Indies 2006-07

At Cuttack, January 24, 2007 (day/night). India won by 20 runs. Toss: India.

Most of the pre-match talk centred around security risks in the state of Orissa, after India's coach Greg Chappell was manhandled by a disgruntled fan at the airport at Bhubaneshwar, but in the event the major threat to the players came from an underprepared pitch. Orissa's state side had won on the same strip 11 days before, using their home advantage well and gaining promotion, but it was a sluggish track, unsuitable for an international. The TV row had been sorted out - Doordarshan agreed to broadcast the feed with a seven-minute delay - but the quality of the cricket left much to be desired. All the batsmen struggled to adjust, especially after the shirtfront at Nagpur, and it was only thanks to a resolute half-century from Karthik that India more than doubled their score after dipping to 90 for seven in the 31st over. West Indies missed Lara, nursing a sore knee, but Chanderpaul again stood out, this time with graft rather than flourish. However, his decision to delay the final charge proved decisive as India's slow bowlers thrived on the turgid surface. Off-spinner Ramesh Powar, recalled after more than three months, picked up three wickets, including Bravo (after a handy stand with Chanderpaul) and Morton in the same over, and ensured India could not lose the series.