CALCUTTA Jan. 2, Reuter: Ravi Shastri shone in his assumed role as Indian captain by leading his team to their first one day international victory at home over West Indies on Saturday.
India, with a 55run triumph in the third one day international, reduced the West Indies’ lead in the eight match series to 21. India made 222 for seven in 45 overs and West Indies replied with 167 in 41.5 overs,
India now has four wins to West Indies’ 13 in one day internationals between the two sides.
Shastri, temporary replacement for the injured Dilip Vengsarkar, inspired his side in front of nearly 85,000 fans with superb display of left arm spin bowling which earned him figures of 91, 312 on a placid looking pitch at the Eden Gardens.
Shastri used medium pacers Kapil Dev and Shanjeey Sharma in an excellent spell of seam bowling before turning to spin.
Desmond Haynes was trapped leg before by Kapil Dev and Sharma was equally effective, worrying Gordon Greenidge and Richie Richardson with his late swinging deliveries,
But Greenidge coped with the slow bowling of Maninder Singh to score ‘with three fours and one six.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 8, 1988
