Player of the Match
Player of the Match

That brings an end to the coverage of India's home season. On behalf of all involved, I, Sidharth Monga, say thanks and so long

Ravi Shastri leads the presentation. He invites Darren Sammy first. Sammy says, "Congratulations to Pollard on his first one-day hundred. It was really good to watch. We have been paying some good cricket, we have been fighting throughout, but unfortunately we are not finishing things off. Everybody expected us to roll over, we didn't. The attitude was good to see. I'd like to congratulate the boys on the effort, the way they supported me in the tough series. We can only move forward from here. Congratulations to Sehwag and his team, we can hold our heads up."

Gautam Gambhir says, "We know what Pollard can do on his day, but credit to the bowlers who stuck to their game. It was a matter of just one ball. Every ball he middled was going out of the ground, but you have to stick to your line and length. Good to see Manoj get the hundred, hopefully he will go on and get many more. We thought 240 would be a good total. Good to see the bench strength available."

Manoj Tiwary is the MoM. I thought Pollard and Tiwary would have shared it. Tiwary says, "I enjoyed it. It wasn't coming onto the bat, it made my game easier. Generally I play spin retty well, so I made sure I took advantage of the loose balls. I have to say that the team management have backed me really well, and made me comfortable in the dressing room. I didn't hydrate enough before the match, that is my mistake. I want to dedicate the award to all the people who died in the Calcutta Hospital tragedy."

Rohit Sharma is the Man of the Series. He says, "I didn't want to think about the past. Whatever has happened has happened. It was a new beginning, I analysed my game, I rectified the mistakes. Hopefully it won't be repeated. It [the injury in England] was frustrating. I was in good form from WI, and wanted to carry on. Hopefully no more injuries. Touch wood, I will be playing for a long long time. I have been watching closely MS Dhoni and Yuvraj bat with the tail and finish matches off, so I have learned from them."

Virender Sehwag says, "Satisfied with the young team. Especially with the young fielding and bowling unit. They were all eager to play. I asked everybody can you take a break, they said no, so I had to take the break. Good to see Manoj come in and score the century. It's a good end to the season. Beating England 5-0 and West Indies 4-1."

A special century from Pollard. His first really big innings against big opposition at international level. India have hung in well. bear in mind they had only two specialist bowlers in the side. India have won the series 4-1, their home season has featured only two losses out of 14 matches. And Gambhir maintains his unbeaten record as captain

44.1
W
Raina to Pollard, OUT, Raina strikes first ball. He has some sense of occasion. Pollard is down on his haunches for about five minutes. This is full outside off, he has drilled it down to long-off. Rahane takes a superb catch at the edge of the boundary. A small leap is required, but he makes sure he stays inside the rope. Irfan Pathan comes and shakes Pollard's hand, but Pollard is distraught. Slowly the Indians come to console - well not sure if that is the right emotion - Pollard, whose face is blank

KA Pollard c Rahane b Raina 119 (140m 110b 4x4 10x6) SR: 108.18

"I'd like to see WI win and Chennai give them a standing ovation" Blaze, you can count on that I suppose, but you can never guess how a crowd responds. Here is Raina

END OF OVER:
44 | 9 Runs | WI: 233/9 (35 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 5.29, RRR: 5.83)

  • Kieron Pollard119 (109b)
  • Anthony Martin0 (0b)
  • Ravindra Jadeja10-0-62-3
  • Rahul Sharma10-0-45-1
43.6
1
Jadeja to Pollard, 1 run, the long-on is up so Pollard goes long-off, and retains strike with the single

Long-on comes in. They want to deny him an easy single. The partnership is 19 off 11. Martin is yet to face. Jadeja goes round the stumps

43.5
0
Jadeja to Pollard, no run, quick, outside leg, turning towards the stumps, defended
43.4
6
Jadeja to Pollard, SIX, Six No. 10. Sensational hitting. Length ball on the pads, and nonchalantly flicks it over wide long-on for yet another
43.3
2
Jadeja to Pollard, 2 runs, mis-hit as he chips, but clears extra cover, and they come back for two
43.2
0
Jadeja to Pollard, no run, flat, low trajectory, middle and leg, defended back

The target is under 50

43.1
0
Jadeja to Pollard, no run, full on off from over the stumps, Pollard turns down the single to long-off

END OF OVER:
43 | 11 Runs | WI: 224/9 (44 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 5.20, RRR: 6.28)

  • Kieron Pollard110 (103b)
  • Anthony Martin0 (0b)
  • Rahul Sharma10-0-45-1
  • Ravindra Jadeja9-0-53-3
42.6
1
R Sharma to Pollard, 1 run, length ball on leg, and he takes the single to retain the strike
42.5
6
R Sharma to Pollard, SIX, the fat lady can sit down for a bit. Pollard hits another sing. Pitches middle, on a length, and he goes across the line for a six over wide long-on. Effortless again

The field doesn't come up

42.4
0
R Sharma to Pollard, no run, slower through the air, turning towards off, defended to cover
42.3
0
R Sharma to Pollard, no run, another forward defensive
42.2
0
R Sharma to Pollard, no run, length ball on the pads, defended to leg
42.1
4
R Sharma to Pollard, FOUR, Kohli has dropped a sitter to allow Pollard his hundred. He is one of the safest Indian fielders around. This is drilled to him at long-on. And through it goes his hands. Head high it was. Pollard takes it gleefully, and celebrates the hundred with the cap off

Pollard or nothing now. Will he take the single to get his hundred now?

END OF OVER:
42 | 1 Run 1 Wkt | WI: 213/9 (55 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 5.07, RRR: 6.87)

  • Kieron Pollard99 (97b)
  • Ravindra Jadeja9-0-53-3
  • Abhimanyu Mithun7-1-32-2
41.6
W
Jadeja to Roach, OUT, timber. Jadeja is redeeming himself here. Wickets of Sammy and Roach here. Slower through the air, flighted, dips towards middle and off, turns away slightly, beats the edge. Off stump is taken

KAJ Roach b Jadeja 0 (21m 15b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

41.5
0
Jadeja to Roach, no run, length ball, defended watchfully back
41.4
0
Jadeja to Roach, no run, flighted on middle and off, defended to extra cover

Round the stumps to Roach

41.3
1
Jadeja to Pollard, 1 run, short of a length, stays low, pushed to deep midwicket for one
41.2
0
Jadeja to Pollard, no run, goes for the sweep, misses out, but it is pitched outside leg
41.1
0
Jadeja to Pollard, no run, pitches outside leg, turns sharply towards the stumps. No run

"I bow down to Happy baba! Seriously. Cricinfo, please pass on this wonderful thought to angry young cricketers around the world." Yes, Mohit Goyal, we are getting pamphlets printed. Jadeja comes back again. Bold move. Over the wicket

END OF OVER:
41 | 1 Run | WI: 212/8 (56 runs required from 54 balls, RR: 5.17, RRR: 6.22)

  • Kemar Roach0 (12b)
  • Kieron Pollard98 (94b)
  • Abhimanyu Mithun7-1-32-2
  • Irfan Pathan9-1-42-2
40.6
0
Mithun to Roach, no run, slower short ball, outside off, pushed to point. More than a run a ball required now
40.5
0
Mithun to Roach, no run, full, near yorker, pushed to short cover
40.4
0
Mithun to Roach, no run, back of a length, stump to stump, defended back to him
40.3
0
Mithun to Roach, no run, length ball, middle and off, straight extra cover is alert to the possibility of the single, and denies them that
40.2
0
Mithun to Roach, no run, short of a length, pushed to point, he sends Pollard back. This is behind square and it's Polly's call. But they are all safe for the time being

Five man inside the circle now

West Indies 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st0LMP SimmonsKOA Powell
2nd23MN SamuelsKOA Powell
3rd6MN SamuelsJN Mohammed
4th7D RamdinJN Mohammed
5th42D RamdinKA Pollard
6th89KA PollardAD Russell
7th14DJG SammyKA Pollard
8th14SP NarineKA Pollard
9th18KAJ RoachKA Pollard
10th20KA PollardA Martin