Shami takes three as India bowl out West Indies for 182

PERTH: Fast bowler Mohammed Shami returned from injury to torment the West Indies batsmen with three wickets as India bowled out the Caribbean side for 182 in their World Cup Group B match at the WACA on Friday.

West Indies captain Jason Holder (57) hit his second half-century and highest in one-day internationals to give his team some sort of a total to defend against the holders, who have won all three of their matches so far.

Shami, who missed India’s win against the United Arab Emirates with a knee injury on Saturday, put West Indies on the backfoot early by dismissing hard-hitting openers Dwayne Smith (six) and Chris Gayle (21) with the new ball.

Shami and fast bowling partner Umesh Yadav (2-42) started well, bowling fast and short on the WACA pitch, considered the quickest in the world, as India dominated the explosive West Indies batting lineup.

Gayle, who hit the World Cup’s highest individual score of 215 against Zimbabwe last week, offered up two difficult chances before he pulled Shami straight to Mohit Sharma. He was also guilty of running out Marlon Samuels (2).

With their talisman gone, West Indies were reduced to 35-4 and then 85-7 on the first ball of the 25th over before some resolute batting from the tail saw them through to the 45th over.

Right-arm paceman Shami came back with an older ball to take out former captain Darren Sammy (26) to end a promising 39-run stand for the eighth wicket before Holder added 51 for the ninth with Jerome Taylor (11).

Holder hit four boundaries and three sixes before becoming the last man to fall for West Indies off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja.

It was one of two wickets for the left-arm spinner to complete another stronger bowling display by the twice champions, who were also guilty of dropping a number of catches.

REUTERS