Getting early wickets was key to victory: Rampaul

Architect of West Indies' splendid 16-run win over India, man-of-the-match pacer Ravi Rampaul said getting early breakthroughs was the key to his side's triumph in the third ODI here.

"I would say it was about getting early breakthroughs," said Rampaul at the post-match press conference last night when asked if that was the key point of the match or the whirlwind stand of 91 between his captain Darren Sammy and Andre Russell.

Rampaul said the important lesson that he had learned on his visits to India with the Trinidad and Tobago squad for the Champions League matches was to bowl stump to stump.

"My two visits for the Champions League have helped. The key to bowling on these pitches is to keep line and length, bowl wicket to wicket," said the 27-year-old pacer.

Rampaul's figures of 4 for 57 in 8.5 overs included the wickets of India skipper Virender Sehwag and one down Gautam Gambhir for first ball blobs.

Sehwag was dismissed by the bowler with a late out swinger which the dashing opener tried to drive and edged to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, while Gambhir was foxed by a ball that moved in a shade as the left-handed batsman shouldered arms and was trapped in front.

Rampaul also gave credit to debutant off-spinner Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels for backing him up and the other fast bowlers very well.

"The spinners bowled very well and kept it tight. Narine bowled well and kept up the pressure. We also stuck to our plans," he said.

Rampaul, a man of few words, also expressed hope that his team would continue do well in the remaining two matches at Indore and Chennai by sticking to their plans.