On this day, January 21,2007: A high scoring run feast between India and West Indies in Nagpur. It was thrilling high scoring ODI match between India and West Indies in Nagpur. It was the first match of the ODI series. India batted first and posted a big total of 338/3. At the halfway mark it looked like an above par total and the match India were the favorites to win it. But West Indies batted really well and came very close. In the end, West Indies lost the match by 14 runs as they scored 324/8. The fans were treated to some spectacular batting from both the sides and the pendulum kept swinging and it was India who held their nerve to close out the game.
India were batting first and started really well with an opening partnership of 144 between
Gambhir and Ganguly. The left-hand duo scored at a good rate and both of them completed thir half centuries. Gautam Gambhir was dismissed for 69. Sachin lost his wicket on 31 but MS Dhoni came in and scored a quickfire half century. Sourav Ganguly unfortunately lost his wicket on 98 due to a run-out. Dravid and MS Dhoni provided excellent finishing touches as India scored a mammoth 338 on the board.
None of the West Indian pacers could get a wicket and out of the three wickets they produced, two of them were picked up by Chris Gayle and one was a run out. So it was a day to forget for the other West Indian bowlers. It looked an above par total at the halfway mark. But West Indies came out all guns blazing.
Chris Gayle smashed a quick half century and lost his wicket, but the lone warrior was Shivnarine Chanderpaul who scored an unbeaten 149 runs of 136 balls and carried his bat through. No other batters down the order could score a half century and it was a stunning effort from Chanderpaul to take the game down to the wire. All the Indian bowlers picked up at least a wicket and the fielding was good. India won the match, but the player of the match went to Shivnarine Chanderpaul who stood tall and played an innings of a lifetime.
