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India crushes Windies by 6 wickets
The energetic opening partnership of 133 runs between Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar guided India to a sparkling 6-wicket win over the West Indies at Harare.
The energetic opening partnership of 133 runs between Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar guided India to a sparkling 6-wicket win over the West Indies at Harare.
Tendulkar`s match winning unbeaten 122 knock was his 29th century in one-day internationals and the highest score by an Indian against the West Indies in the limited over version of the game. Chasing 230 to win, the Indians never looked in trouble with Tendulkar looking far more positive and going for his trademark pull shorts over mid wicket.
Earlier, Ganguly won the toss and once again elected to field. The West Indies got off to a decent start but D Ganga who had scored a good 55 was run out by a direct throw by Sameer Dighe. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, kept tied down, gave a catch to midwicket off Debashish Mohanty to depart for 16. Wavell Hinds contributed a stroke filed 66 before he was caught and bowled by Harvinder Singh. Carl Hooper and Ridley Jacobs got on with the repair job until Hooper (24) caught long-on off Harvinder. The ever-dependable Ridley Jacobs remained 27 not out.
The Indian bowlers did not fare too well against the Windies batsmen on a wicket that had little to offer. Nehra was the pick of the bowlers though he did not pick a wicket. He gave away just 33 runs in his 9 overs. Harvinder Singh took two wickets buy went for 65 runs in his 10 overs. Harbhajan, as usual was miserly, taking a wicket and giving away 33 runs.
But the target of 229 was never going to challenge a strong and an in-form Indian batting lineup. Apart from Sachin`s scintillating knock, Sourav Ganguly also joined the party, scoring 62 from 87 balls. His innings comprised 10 boundaries and a six. The Indian skipper got into the swing of things by slamming three boundaries in an over when he first faced Reon King. Colin Stuart did no better, pitching short and wide to allow Ganguly two more fours from cuts. With Ganguly dismissed with the score reading 133, Virender Shewag walked to the wicket and was soon dismissed, unluckily stumped by Ridley Jacobs off Hooper for 4. The action replay clearly showed that Jacobs took off the bails with the glove not holding the ball. Hemang Badani was once again castled when he tried to steer Carl Hooper and was comprehensively bowled. Rahul Dravid looked in great form, middling the ball and scoring 15 runs from 18 balls before Chris Gayle clean bowled him.
This gave an opportunity for the live wire Reetinder Singh Sodhi to have a go at the Windies bowlers and he did it in style, slamming 16 runs from 21 balls and along with Sachin, guiding India to a comprehensive win. The match might have been inconsequential as both India and West Indies are already in the finals but the win has provided India with a psychological advantage as the two teams go in for the final to be played on Saturday.
Bureau Report
Earlier, Ganguly won the toss and once again elected to field. The West Indies got off to a decent start but D Ganga who had scored a good 55 was run out by a direct throw by Sameer Dighe. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, kept tied down, gave a catch to midwicket off Debashish Mohanty to depart for 16. Wavell Hinds contributed a stroke filed 66 before he was caught and bowled by Harvinder Singh. Carl Hooper and Ridley Jacobs got on with the repair job until Hooper (24) caught long-on off Harvinder. The ever-dependable Ridley Jacobs remained 27 not out.
The Indian bowlers did not fare too well against the Windies batsmen on a wicket that had little to offer. Nehra was the pick of the bowlers though he did not pick a wicket. He gave away just 33 runs in his 9 overs. Harvinder Singh took two wickets buy went for 65 runs in his 10 overs. Harbhajan, as usual was miserly, taking a wicket and giving away 33 runs.
But the target of 229 was never going to challenge a strong and an in-form Indian batting lineup. Apart from Sachin`s scintillating knock, Sourav Ganguly also joined the party, scoring 62 from 87 balls. His innings comprised 10 boundaries and a six. The Indian skipper got into the swing of things by slamming three boundaries in an over when he first faced Reon King. Colin Stuart did no better, pitching short and wide to allow Ganguly two more fours from cuts. With Ganguly dismissed with the score reading 133, Virender Shewag walked to the wicket and was soon dismissed, unluckily stumped by Ridley Jacobs off Hooper for 4. The action replay clearly showed that Jacobs took off the bails with the glove not holding the ball. Hemang Badani was once again castled when he tried to steer Carl Hooper and was comprehensively bowled. Rahul Dravid looked in great form, middling the ball and scoring 15 runs from 18 balls before Chris Gayle clean bowled him.
This gave an opportunity for the live wire Reetinder Singh Sodhi to have a go at the Windies bowlers and he did it in style, slamming 16 runs from 21 balls and along with Sachin, guiding India to a comprehensive win. The match might have been inconsequential as both India and West Indies are already in the finals but the win has provided India with a psychological advantage as the two teams go in for the final to be played on Saturday.
Bureau Report