India flounder after Uthappa's blitzkrieg and Sachin-Dravid stand

Chennai, Jan 27 (UNI) India were off to a flying start but the West Indies bowlers came back strongly to restrict the Indian batsmen to 268 in 48 overs in the third day-night ODI in a packed M A Chidambaram stadium here today.

Robin Uthappa opening the innings in place of Sourav Ganguly, bludgeoned the Caribbean medium pacers to blast 70 off 41 balls with 11 fours and two sixes after Windies struck an early blow, dismissing the other opener Gautam Gambhir for a duck.

Then master blaster Sachin Tendulkar (60, 66 balls, two fours) and skipper Rahul Dravid (57, 67 balls, one four) who fell in tandem, added 106 runs for the fourth wicket.

But India lost their last seven wickets for 36 runs in 13.3 overs, collapsing from 232 for three in 34.3 overs to 268 all out.

It was a great comeback for medium pacer Bravo who claimed four for 39 in nine overs after being hit for 19 runs in his first over by Uthappa.

This was his career best figures after his 3 for 14 against Bangladesh at Jaipur in ICC Champions Trophy last year.

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