Lara's mastery against spin

If India were to make a match of their meagre total of 217, their spinners, Harbhajan Singh and Ramesh Powar, had to turn in a performance similar to that of the second ODI where they bowled 20 overs and took 3 for 70. The signs were encouraging after India struggled against Marlon Samuels, who conceded just 37 off his ten overs. However, what the Indian middle order lacked, West Indies had in abundance - the genius of Brian Lara. In a masterclass on footwork against spin on a slow surface, Lara mixed caution with stunning aggression and ensured that India never had a chance of winning the game. The following graphic depicts Lara's wagon wheel against the spinners.

Lara scored 53 runs off 63 balls against spin and only 16 runs off 37 balls against the fast bowlers. At every opportunity, Lara stepped out to smother the spin and bounce - coming down the track and driving to midwicket, mid-on and the cover region. Lara attacked Powar from the onset. He used his feet to play aggressively through the offside, scoring 21 runs off the 22 balls Powar bowled to him. So often did Lara use his feet that Powar even slipped in a couple of flatter and faster balls, something he hardly does.

Having fallen to Harbhajan at St Kitts, Lara was more circumspect against him. He scored only 12 off the first 30 balls Harbhajan bowled to him, choosing to step down and defend, or leave anything outside his off stump. He played with a straight bat unless the length was short enough to cut safely. Then, having seen off the danger, Lara clobbered Harbhajan for two fours and a six in his final over, as if to emphasise that he had been in charge all along. After Chris Gayle had departed following a period of stagnation, Lara orchestrated the run-chase to perfection.