WC: Dhoni's heroic knock leads India to victory against WI

After bowling out West Indies for 182 runs, Indian batsmen survived initial blows to reach 185 runs for the loss of six wickets in 39.1 overs and qualified for the quarter-finals of the 50-over mega cricket event.

Indian innings tottered in the middle after the side was reduced to 134 runs for the loss of six wickets with Dhoni and Ashwin left in the middle to recover from the point and ensure their fourth straight victory in the tournament.

The Indian skipper  and his CSK teammate played brilliantly and used all their  experience to join in a crucial seventh wicket partnership and reach the target without any further damage.

With several overs left, both the batsmen showed no hurry and played sensibly to add the needed runs and it was specially Dhoni who escalated the pace of his innings as was demanded by the situation.

Hitting three boundaries and a six in his 56-ball knock, Dhoni helped India cross the target and even made sure his side hold the top position in the Pool B with 8 points from 4 games.

Ashwin gave him a good support and remained unbeaten on 16 runs.

India earlier quickly lost the wickets of the two openers- Shikhar Dhawan (9) and Rohit Sharma (7)- as the defending champions struggled at 20 for two after seven overs.

Virat Kohli  (33) tried to stabilise the innings but after he departed, situations turned more critical for India.

Ajinkya Rahane (14), Suresh Raina (22) and Ravindra Jadeja (13) could not convert the start they got in the match and departed at a point of the game when the side needed them the most.

Jerome Taylor (2-33) and Jerome Taylor (2-43) remained the pick of the West Indies bowlers.

Earlier, powered by a scintillating 57 by tail ender Jason Holder and adding up 97 in the last three wickets, West Indies averted a total disaster, but set an easy target for India as they finished with a humble 182 all out.

Mohammad Shami was the most successful bowler for India, claiming three wickets for 35 runs while spinner Ravindra Jadeja bagged two wickets for 27 runs. Pacemen Mohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav also took one wicket apiece.

The Caribbeans, who had elected to bat after winning the toss, suffered early blows when top order batsmen Dwayne Smith was first caught behind the wicket off Shami in the fifth over scoring only 6 to be followed by Marlon Samuels (2), Chris Gayle (21) and Denesh Ramdin (0) in the next four overs when the team's total stood at 35 for four.

Lendl Simmons, Jonathan Carter and Andre Russel were the next to go leaving the team tottering at 93 losing seven wickets at the end of the 25th over.

But partnering with Darren Sammy and J Taylor, Holder played a brilliant role to somewhat retrieve the situation for his team .

The match was crucial for West Indies to reach the quarter finals.

West Indies 182 all out in 44.2 overs (J Holder 57; M Shami 3-35, U Yadav 2-42, R Jadeja 2-27)

India 185 for six in 39.1 overs (MS Dhoni 45 no; J Taylor 2-33, A Russell 2-43)