Gayle powers West Indies to 3-2 lead at Baroda For the fifth time in five matches in this series, the team batting second - the West Indies, in this case - chased down a relatively steep total with surprising ease. India reached 290 thanks to some good batting from Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman, and that looked a good total - until the West Indians started to bat. Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle smashed 132 in 16.2 overs, virtually decimating the Indian attack, debutant L Balaji in particular. Gayle went on to complete his third century of the series (101, 107b, 10x4, 3x6) while Hinds hit 80 (61b, 10x4, 5x6). After that kind of start, it was sufficient for the middle-order to merely play sensibly, which they did well enough. The West Indies now lead this series 3-2, and both teams will be looking for the win at the next match in Jodhpur - the hosts to stay alive in the rubber and the tourists to seal the series outright.

Hooper: The opening stand set up the win West Indies captain Carl Hooper said his side's five-wicket victory at Baroda was virtually sealed at the end of the 15th over. "After what (Chris) Gayle and (Wavell) Hinds did in the first 15 overs, a win was always on the cards," Hooper told reporters. "They set things up perfectly for us." "Gayle has been batting brilliantly all through this series and he did a good job again today," Hooper said. "It was great to see Wavell come with a solid knock that gave us the initiative." Hinds, who was named man of the match for his 61-ball innings that included 10 fours and five sixes, said he realised he and Gayle had to get a flying start. "I thought Chris and I needed to get a fantastic start," said Hinds. "We never set ourselves a target (and) decided to play over by over, but luckily things worked out great in the end." Indian captain Sourav Ganguly blamed his team's poor bowling for the defeat but also praised the West Indian openers. "I thought 290 was a good score to defend but we gave away too many runs in the first 15 overs," Ganguly said. "We didn't bowl well but West Indies batted really well and didn't allow us to pick wickets at regular intervals." Ganguly said his team were determined to play more aggressively in the final two games. "We are one down but there are two games to go. It's still anybody's series," Ganguly said. "We have to get out act together in Jodhpur and put up a much better performance." Hooper, however, has other ideas. "I know India will come back hard, but it'll be great to close out the series in Jodhpur," he said. "We're going to be ready for them."

Ganguly rested for final two one-dayers Sourav Ganguly has been rested for the last two one-dayers against West Indies due to a back injury, with Rahul Dravid leading the team instead. "Ganguly is struggling with his back and will be rested," Karunakaran Nair, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said after a selection committee meeting on Monday. Ganguly said on Sunday he might withdraw from the final two games to be with his father, who is set to undergo his second heart-bypass operation in England later this month. The selectors also left out seamer L Balaji, who went for 44 runs from four overs in his debut on Monday, and Jai P Yadav. Ajit Agarkar returns to the team, as does all-rounder Reetinder Singh Sodhi. Offie Sarandeep Singh also makes a return after last playing against Zimbabwe in March.

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