Yuvraj's All Round Show Script India's Easy Win Over Windies
Chennai, Mar 20: Yuvraj Singh smashed his maiden World Cup century and took two wickets as India crushed West Indies by 80 runs in their last Group B league match to set up a quarter-final
Chennai, Mar 20: Yuvraj Singh smashed his maiden World Cup century and took two wickets as India crushed West Indies by 80 runs in their last Group B league match to set up a quarter-final clash against defending champions Australia, here today.
With today's win India finished second in group B with nine points, one less than top finisher South Africa. India will face Australia on Thursday in Ahmedabad.
Electing to bat, India suffered yet another late batting collapse to be all out for 268 in 49.1 overs after Yuvraj Singh's brilliant knock of 113.
Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul took five for 51 to start the slide as India lost seven wickets for 50 runs in 7.4 overs.
India skittled out the Caribbean side for 188 with seven overs to spare as the spinners did an outstanding job.
Like India, West Indies too suffered a batting collapse following a strong start as they lost last seven wickets for just 34 runs at the M A Chidambaram Stadium.
Zaheer Khan (3/26) was the most successful Indian bowler with three wickets while Yuvraj (2/18) and R Ashwin (2/41) took two wickets apiece.
It was not a flourishing but still a decent start to West Indies chase with Devon Smith (81) playing the sheet anchor by sharing three good partnerships with the top order batsmen.
He raised quick 34 runs with Kirk Edwards for the first wicket, then stitched a 57-run stand with Darren Bravo and followed it up with 63 run partnership for the third wicket with Ramnaresh Sarwan (39).
Smith was taking it away from the Indians as West Indies were placed comfortable at 154 for two in the 31st over but once Zaheer Khan bowled Smith, the Caribbeans lost wickets in a heap.
Harbhajan sent back hard-hitting Keiron Pollard (1) and Yuvraj had Devon Smith (2) stumped by Dhoni. That brought skipper Darren Sammy on to the crease but threw his wicket by running himself out, thanks to a terrible mix up with Sarwan.
Yuvraj struck for the second time when he had Andre Russell (zero) caught by Yusuf Pathan at point.
Zaheer ended all Windies hopes when he scalped Sarwan.
It was Ashwin, playing his first game in the tournament, who handed India its first breakthrough by trapping Edwards with his carrom ball.
The umpire had initially turned down the appeal but the the decision had to be overturned after the Indians asked for a review, which went in their favour.
Smith pulled Harbhajan Singh for a four and Bravo hit Ashwin for a six and a four as the duo was quick to wrest the momentum back from the Indians.
As the wicket was helping spinners, Indian captain M S Dhoni introduced Suresh Raina, who responded with the wicket of dangerous looking Bravo in his very first over.
Smith was going great on the other end as he raised his half-century with a single off Raina but could not help his his side win.
They will play Pakistan in their quarter-final on Wednesday in Mairpur, Bangaldesh.
Earlier, coming at number four, one up from his normal slot due to opener Virender Sehwag's absence because of an injury, Yuvraj showed his prowess by toying with the West Indies bowlers, though he got two reprieves, on nine and 11.
Yuvraj's 13th ODI hundred came from 123 balls and was studded with 10 boundaries and two sixes.
Virat Kohli was the other main contributor with a 76-ball 59, which was studded with five boundaries. Gautam Gambhir, who opened along with Sachin Tendulkar, and skipper Dhoni contributed 22 each.
India looked like touching the 300 mark at 218 for three in the 42nd over, but then lost seven wickets for 50 runs in 7.4 overs. India had lost nine wickets for just 29 runs in their earlier Group B match, against South Africa.
But for the 122-run stand between Yuvraj and Kohli for the third wicket in 23.5 overs, India's total would have been much lower.
Yuvraj played a few breathtaking shots but the one that stood out was the golf swing that sent a Darren Sammy delivery over long-on. He was out in the 45th over, holing out to Kieron Pollard at midwicket region, as India were reduced to 240 for six.
Tendulkar, who was just one ton away from scoring 100 international century, chose to walk off despite Australian umpire Steve Davis signalling not out.
He stabbed at Ravi Rampaul's short of a length delivery which rose above his waist and straightened outside the off by taking the bottom hand off the handle before popping up to wicketkeeper Devon Thomas.
The champion batsman, who had scored just two in four balls, chose to walk back to the stunned silence of the capacity crowd. Gambhir and Kohli then did a bit of repair work with a 43-run stand for the second wicket and they were particularly harsh on left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn.
The introduction of fast bowler Andre Russell brought some control but it was Rampaul again who gave West Indies the second breakthrough with Gambhir top-edging to the wicketkeeper while trying to slash a delivery.
Kohli fell to Rampaul in the 33rd over but India were still looking strong to reach near 300-run mark at 212 for three after the 40th over before the batsmen starte to perish in self-destruction manner.
Dhoni, who looked set for a substantial score, triggered the collapse as he stepped out of the track to hoist a Devendra Bishoo delivery only to be beaten and stumped-out.
Dhoni's dismissal led to a competition to follow him at the pavilion among his colleagues as five wickets fell for 28 runs as Rampaul returned to shuffle out India's tailenders.
Suresh Raina followed his skipper two overs later caught by Rampaul off Sammy. Yusuf Pathan continued his poor run in the tournament as he was out for just 11 in the 47th over.
Harbhajan Singh (3), Zaheer Khan (5) and Munaf Patel (1) could not contribute much as each one of them fell in successive overs as India folded for 268 in 49.1 overs. PTI
With today's win India finished second in group B with nine points, one less than top finisher South Africa. India will face Australia on Thursday in Ahmedabad.
Electing to bat, India suffered yet another late batting collapse to be all out for 268 in 49.1 overs after Yuvraj Singh's brilliant knock of 113.
Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul took five for 51 to start the slide as India lost seven wickets for 50 runs in 7.4 overs.
India skittled out the Caribbean side for 188 with seven overs to spare as the spinners did an outstanding job.
Like India, West Indies too suffered a batting collapse following a strong start as they lost last seven wickets for just 34 runs at the M A Chidambaram Stadium.
Zaheer Khan (3/26) was the most successful Indian bowler with three wickets while Yuvraj (2/18) and R Ashwin (2/41) took two wickets apiece.
It was not a flourishing but still a decent start to West Indies chase with Devon Smith (81) playing the sheet anchor by sharing three good partnerships with the top order batsmen.
He raised quick 34 runs with Kirk Edwards for the first wicket, then stitched a 57-run stand with Darren Bravo and followed it up with 63 run partnership for the third wicket with Ramnaresh Sarwan (39).
Smith was taking it away from the Indians as West Indies were placed comfortable at 154 for two in the 31st over but once Zaheer Khan bowled Smith, the Caribbeans lost wickets in a heap.
Harbhajan sent back hard-hitting Keiron Pollard (1) and Yuvraj had Devon Smith (2) stumped by Dhoni. That brought skipper Darren Sammy on to the crease but threw his wicket by running himself out, thanks to a terrible mix up with Sarwan.
Yuvraj struck for the second time when he had Andre Russell (zero) caught by Yusuf Pathan at point.
Zaheer ended all Windies hopes when he scalped Sarwan.
It was Ashwin, playing his first game in the tournament, who handed India its first breakthrough by trapping Edwards with his carrom ball.
The umpire had initially turned down the appeal but the the decision had to be overturned after the Indians asked for a review, which went in their favour.
Smith pulled Harbhajan Singh for a four and Bravo hit Ashwin for a six and a four as the duo was quick to wrest the momentum back from the Indians.
As the wicket was helping spinners, Indian captain M S Dhoni introduced Suresh Raina, who responded with the wicket of dangerous looking Bravo in his very first over.
Smith was going great on the other end as he raised his half-century with a single off Raina but could not help his his side win.
They will play Pakistan in their quarter-final on Wednesday in Mairpur, Bangaldesh.
Earlier, coming at number four, one up from his normal slot due to opener Virender Sehwag's absence because of an injury, Yuvraj showed his prowess by toying with the West Indies bowlers, though he got two reprieves, on nine and 11.
Yuvraj's 13th ODI hundred came from 123 balls and was studded with 10 boundaries and two sixes.
Virat Kohli was the other main contributor with a 76-ball 59, which was studded with five boundaries. Gautam Gambhir, who opened along with Sachin Tendulkar, and skipper Dhoni contributed 22 each.
India looked like touching the 300 mark at 218 for three in the 42nd over, but then lost seven wickets for 50 runs in 7.4 overs. India had lost nine wickets for just 29 runs in their earlier Group B match, against South Africa.
But for the 122-run stand between Yuvraj and Kohli for the third wicket in 23.5 overs, India's total would have been much lower.
Yuvraj played a few breathtaking shots but the one that stood out was the golf swing that sent a Darren Sammy delivery over long-on. He was out in the 45th over, holing out to Kieron Pollard at midwicket region, as India were reduced to 240 for six.
Tendulkar, who was just one ton away from scoring 100 international century, chose to walk off despite Australian umpire Steve Davis signalling not out.
He stabbed at Ravi Rampaul's short of a length delivery which rose above his waist and straightened outside the off by taking the bottom hand off the handle before popping up to wicketkeeper Devon Thomas.
The champion batsman, who had scored just two in four balls, chose to walk back to the stunned silence of the capacity crowd. Gambhir and Kohli then did a bit of repair work with a 43-run stand for the second wicket and they were particularly harsh on left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn.
The introduction of fast bowler Andre Russell brought some control but it was Rampaul again who gave West Indies the second breakthrough with Gambhir top-edging to the wicketkeeper while trying to slash a delivery.
Kohli fell to Rampaul in the 33rd over but India were still looking strong to reach near 300-run mark at 212 for three after the 40th over before the batsmen starte to perish in self-destruction manner.
Dhoni, who looked set for a substantial score, triggered the collapse as he stepped out of the track to hoist a Devendra Bishoo delivery only to be beaten and stumped-out.
Dhoni's dismissal led to a competition to follow him at the pavilion among his colleagues as five wickets fell for 28 runs as Rampaul returned to shuffle out India's tailenders.
Suresh Raina followed his skipper two overs later caught by Rampaul off Sammy. Yusuf Pathan continued his poor run in the tournament as he was out for just 11 in the 47th over.
Harbhajan Singh (3), Zaheer Khan (5) and Munaf Patel (1) could not contribute much as each one of them fell in successive overs as India folded for 268 in 49.1 overs. PTI