Sammy, Russell boost Windies

AHMEDABAD, India, Dec 5 (AFP): Skipper Darren Sammy and Andre Russell plundered 79 runs off the last 34 balls to help the West Indies post 260-5 in the third one-day international against India on Monday. Sammy smashed two sixes and five fours in his 17-ball 41 not out while Russell cracked two sixes and four boundaries in his unbeaten 40 off 18 balls as the tourists set a challenging target for India in the day-night match. The West Indies skipper's sixes came in the penultimate over off seamer Abhimanyu Mithun before Russell hit paceman Umesh Yadav for two fours and a six in the last over. The West Indies scored 93 runs in the last seven overs after being put in to bat, thanks to Sammy and Russell. Marlon Samuels (58) earlier steadied the innings with his 22nd half-century in one-dayers after the West Indies lost openers Lendl Simmons (one) and Danza Hyatt (20) on 42 runs. Samuels added 55 runs for the third wicket with Darren Bravo (26), who retired due to a hamstring injury. His best came in the 19th over when he hammered Yadav for a six over long-on and two fours. Denesh Ramdin (38) and Kieron Pollard (29) then put on 55 for the fourth wicket before both fell in the space of four runs. Pollard fell to a superb catch by Ravindra Jadeja, who ran in from long-off to hold the ball at deep extra cover. West Indies: L. Simmons c Patel b Kumar 1 D. Hyatt c Patel b Mithun 20 M. Samuels b Ashwin 58 D. Bravo retd hurt 26 D. Ramdin c Patel b Yadav 38 K. Pollard c Jadeja b Kumar 29 A. Russell not out 40 D. Sammy not out 41 Extras: (b2, w5) 7 Total: (for five wickets; 50 overs) 260