India v West Indies 2006-07

At Chennai, January 27, 2007 (day/night). West Indies won by three wickets. Toss: West Indies. One-day international debut: R. R. Emrit.

Lara returned, as did West Indies' winning feeling. India chose to rest key players, but were essentially sunk by some careless middle-order batting, tumbling from 232 for three in the 35th over to 268 all out. Uthappa's frenetic start, a 41-ball 70 that sealed his World Cup place, provided a perfect platform, but the last 15 overs were a disaster area, Bravo capitalising with four late wickets. The total was competitive, at best, and Samuels attacked it with ferocity, displaying the sort of range that initially prompted seasoned Jamaican observers to compare him to a young Viv Richards. His stand of 127 with Lara tipped the scales: Lara rattled the spinners, shimmying down the track and lofting effortlessly, and West Indies, despite a few late jitters, wrapped up the game and kept the series alive with more than six overs to spare.

Man of the Match: M. N. Samuels.