Magnificent Russell power Windies to 225 for eight

Antigua (PTI) - All-rounder Andre Russell brought
up the rear with a magnificent unbeaten 92 as West Indies
managed 225 for eight against India after being reduced to 96
for seven at one stage, in the third One Day International
here on Saturday.
Leg spinner Amit Mishra (3/28) and pacer Munaf Patel
(3/60) made early inroads but Russell's (92 not out, 64 balls,
8x4, 5x6) power-hitting will atleast give his bowlers a chance
to defend a respectable total.
At one stage, West Indies were 65 for one in 14.4 overs.
However in the next 14.5 overs, the home team lost as many as
six wickets for addition of only 31 runs as they tottered at
96 for seven.
Russell and Baugh (36, 73 balls) then batted sensibly
adding 78 runs for the eighth wicket in 15.5 overs as Indian
bowlers failed to polish off the tail. Russell repeatedly
carted the spinners all over the park including 22 runs from
the penultimate over bowled by skipper Suresh Raina.
The home team skipper Darren Sammy after his team's
defeat in the first two matches has urged the batsman to up
the ante but all they dished out was yet another miserable
show with the willow.
Right from the start they never were in control of the
situation although there was a 65-run second wicket
partnership between Lendl Simmons (45, 68 balls, 4x4, 1x6) and
Ramnaresh Sarwan (28, 38 balls, 2x4, 1x6). The duo however
couldn't dominate the bowling.
Once Sarwan was run-out as he lost his bat failing to
make his ground, Mishra took over as he rocked the
middle-order.