India defeat West Indies by 14 runs in Nagpur

By John Cheeran
Despite Shivnaraine Chanderpaul's heroic innings of 149, India broke Brian Lara's stranglehold over them by 14 runs in Nagpur on Sunday.
It was very, very close, despite the eventual 14-run margin of victory in India's favour.
The magic carpet in Nagpur did not discriminate against Indians whether they are from East or West. There were runs for both sides and it was not easy being a bowler on track like that.
Ask S Sreesanth, India's bowling hero, a few weeks ago in South Africa.
The match did not prove anything. West Indies will be keen to come back and derail India in the remaining three matches. They have a batting lineup ready to rock during the World Cup and it was pretty much evident in Nagpur.
For India they can take solace from the fact that they did not fritter away the good opening Sourav Ganguly and Gautam Gambhir gave them.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and skipper Rahul Dravid made maximum use of the final overs and ensured that the target will be beyond the reach of West Indies batsmen.
Dravid's batting was quite a revelation in Nagpur.
Known for his dour and sensible ways, Indian skipper went for the West Indies' jugular hammering 54 runs from a mere 35 balls. An imperious Dravid clouted three sixers and four boundaries. A few more innings such as this from Dravid's blade down the order should draw the line between defeat and victory for India.
Dhoni was equally explosive. MSD took only 42 balls to score 62 runs, revelling in the batsmen-friendly conditions and cracking four sixers.
But the important thing is that whatever gains India made from this match they will have to leave them at Nagpur itself and begin afresh for the next round of the battle.
For, such perfect batting conditions will not come your way everyday.