West Indies go AWOL
West Indies may have formally played the fourth ODI in Dharamsala but their fielding suggested their minds were already on the flight back home
Abhishek Purohit
17-Oct-2014
A tough start to the day for West Indies players was followed by several lapses on the field • BCCI
The drops
Catches are put down almost every match, but West Indies fluffed too many sitters. Andre Russell had just broken the opening partnership with a sharp bouncer to Shikhar Dhawan, and in his next over, he had Ajinkya Rahane top-edge a hook, only for Jerome Taylor to drop it at fine leg. It came down at a comfortable height barely a few paces to Taylor's right, and he got there easily, but it popped out of his hands.
Catches are put down almost every match, but West Indies fluffed too many sitters. Andre Russell had just broken the opening partnership with a sharp bouncer to Shikhar Dhawan, and in his next over, he had Ajinkya Rahane top-edge a hook, only for Jerome Taylor to drop it at fine leg. It came down at a comfortable height barely a few paces to Taylor's right, and he got there easily, but it popped out of his hands.
Dwayne Bravo brought up the rear end of West Indies' meltdown by putting down Virat Kohli on 101 in the 47th over. Kohli whipped Taylor straight to the West Indies captain at midwicket, but Bravo could not cup his hands around it. Kohli walloped the next ball over long-on for six.
Dhoni had swung the second ball of the 47th over to deep square leg, who did not have to move at all, but still managed to clang it.
The triple whammy
That second ball summed up West Indies' state of mind. There was a run-out chance at the striker's end after the dropped catch but the wicketkeeper collected the throw some way behind the stumps, and missed the target with his lob. The resulting overthrow made it three runs off the delivery, to go with the dropped catch and missed run-out opportunity.
That second ball summed up West Indies' state of mind. There was a run-out chance at the striker's end after the dropped catch but the wicketkeeper collected the throw some way behind the stumps, and missed the target with his lob. The resulting overthrow made it three runs off the delivery, to go with the dropped catch and missed run-out opportunity.
The untimely overthrow
There is no good timing for an overthrow, but this was probably as bad as you could go with it. Kohli was on 99 going into the 47th over, eager to score his first century in a long time. Kohli tucked Taylor to midwicket and the batsmen ran out a few steps before retreating to their ends. With Kohli having already grounded his bat, the fielder needlessly had a go at the striker's end, and missed by a long margin to hand Kohli the century on a platter with an overthrow.
There is no good timing for an overthrow, but this was probably as bad as you could go with it. Kohli was on 99 going into the 47th over, eager to score his first century in a long time. Kohli tucked Taylor to midwicket and the batsmen ran out a few steps before retreating to their ends. With Kohli having already grounded his bat, the fielder needlessly had a go at the striker's end, and missed by a long margin to hand Kohli the century on a platter with an overthrow.
The misfield
There were several of them but this was one of the most glaring. Kohli eased Dwayne Bravo to long-on in the 31st over. This was a regulation ODI push down the ground, without any power, done only to turn the strike over. The ball was rolling very slowly towards the fielder, but he still messed the pick-up.
There were several of them but this was one of the most glaring. Kohli eased Dwayne Bravo to long-on in the 31st over. This was a regulation ODI push down the ground, without any power, done only to turn the strike over. The ball was rolling very slowly towards the fielder, but he still messed the pick-up.
The dare
India were 328 for 5 going into the last two deliveries of the innings, and you would think West Indies would be keen to save every run possible. Kohli had driven Jason Holder to long-on, and it should have been only a single. But Andre Russell picked up the ball and just stood there for a few seconds, daring the batsmen to go for a second. Kohli and Ambati Rayudu did exactly that, and by the time Russell belatedly let go of the ball, the second run was being safely completed.
India were 328 for 5 going into the last two deliveries of the innings, and you would think West Indies would be keen to save every run possible. Kohli had driven Jason Holder to long-on, and it should have been only a single. But Andre Russell picked up the ball and just stood there for a few seconds, daring the batsmen to go for a second. Kohli and Ambati Rayudu did exactly that, and by the time Russell belatedly let go of the ball, the second run was being safely completed.
Abhishek Purohit is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo