Narine draws praise from teammates

AHMEDABAD— Captain Darren Sammy has praised wily Trinidadian off-spinner Sunil Narine who snatched two wickets on debut Monday to help steer West Indies to a handsome win over India in the third One-Day International. The 23-year-old was extremely impressive in finishing with two for 34 from ten miserly overs as India slumped to a 16-run defeat, in search of 261 for victory at the Sardar Patel Stadium.

“If you look at his team in CLT20, he has done exactly that for Trinidad & Tobago,” Sammy said. “He’s been bowling in pressure situations for Trinidad throughout his career and this is just another level but it is same ball and same pitch. He did well. I just hope that he continues.” Narine claimed his first wicket in international cricket when he trapped the dangerous Virat Kohli lbw on the front foot for 20 in the ninth over, to break a partnership of 25 with Parthiv Patel (39).

The slimly built spinner then struck perhaps the most crucial blow of the match when he broke a threatening 91-run, seventh wicket stand between Rohit Sharma (95) and Ravi Ashwin (31). He struck Ashwin in front with the last ball of the power-play to gain another lbw decision. Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, who claimed the Man-of-the-Match award for his haul of four for 57, also lauded Narine’s effort.

“He came in and did a very good job for the team. It was a great way to start your international career,” said Rampaul. “He bowled early and got a key wicket and came back at the end there to pick up another vital wicket for us. He kept building the pressure on the Indian batsmen and it paid off for us.” (CMC)