Champions League exposure aided Rampaul's bowling

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 in Ahmedabad on Monday.

"I would say it was about getting early breakthroughs," Rampaul said.

He added that the important lesson 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 Dinesh Ramadin, while Gambhir was foxed by a ball that moved in a shade as the left-handed batsman was trapped in front.

Rampaul also gave credit to debutant off-spinner Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels for backing him up.

"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.