Indian bowlers make for some pretty pitchers

Kamikaze missions on a good batting pitch are usually the prerogative of the Indian batting line-up, but Wednesday's one-day international saw the West Indies trespass into that territory as well. India, funnily enough, donned the unfamiliar mantle of collapse-instigators, and despite the suicidal streak running through the Caribbean side, India's bowlers must be given their share of credit.

Carl Hooper against all bowlers - West Indies innings at Barbados © CricInfo

Carl Hooper, the West Indies' highest scorer, got a staggering 29 runs out of 76 in the third-man area, unnaturally high for the one-day arena, in which a third-man on the fence is a routine placement. Hooper milked three boundaries and a number of singles in that region - shots that could be played only with the ball short and outside the off-stump.

Hooper, however, is a natural innovator, gifted with a quick enough grasp of length to glide and cut even not-so-short balls to third man. The remaining batsmen in the West Indian side, unfortunately not as blessed, struggled to score runs against the Indian bowlers' persistent line just outside the off-stump, frustrating themselves into throwing their wicket away.

Dinesh Mongia against all bowlers - India innings at Barbados© CricInfo

Dinesh Mongia's wagon-wheel hints at a less disciplined West Indian bowling attack. Mongia scored 20 runs in the mid-wicket area, as well as 15 runs between deep extra-cover and the sight-screen. Both runconcentrations are telling. The West Indian bowlers pitched either too short or too full, both cardinal faults on a good batting wicket.

Mongia, accordingly, had no trouble in pulling the short balls away to the mid-wicket fence four times; to make things even easier for him, the host bowlers erred in line as well, pitching on middle rather than just outside off as the Indians did. When the West Indians tried to compensate and pitched too full in the process, Mongia simply drove them down the ground.

At the post-match press conference, Hooper blamed the loss on a sense of complacency among the West Indian batsmen. While that may undoubtedly have contributed to the defeat, India's bowlers have every right to feel that their discipline gave their side a significant edge.

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