ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Group B, Chennai:
India 268 (49.1 overs) beat West Indies 188 (43 overs) by 80 runs
Match scorecard
Yuvraj survived two dropped catches on his way to a first World Cup century
| By Peter Scrivener |
India set up a World Cup quarter-final against holders Australia with a 80-run victory over West Indies, who will face Pakistan in the knockout stages.
West Indies paceman Ravi Rampaul took 5-51 on his World Cup debut including the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for two. Yuvraj Singh, who was dropped twice, hit 113 and shared a third wicket stand of 122 with Virat Kohli (59) before India collapsed from 218-3 to 268.
Devon Smith hit 81 but West Indies lost eight wickets for 34 to finish on 188.
The game was effectively a dead rubber with India having already guaranteed their safe passage into the knockout stages, while West Indies knew that unless they were beaten heavily, they too would also qualify.
The real story was whether Tendulkar would score his 49th one-day century to add to the 51 Test tons he has amassed and thus reach the magical figure of 100 international centuries.
He received a standing ovation while taking guard from 40,000 expectant fans in Chennai and when the 37-year-old tucked his first ball off his legs for two, he was afforded a reception normally reserved for a centurion.
However, the deafening cheers turned to deafening silence three balls later when he feathered a seaming Rampaul delivery to Devon Thomas behind the stumps.
Umpire Steve Davis did not give Tendulkar out but the opener had sportingly turned away and begun to walk back to the dressing room at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
The excitement soon returned to the stands though as Gautam Gambhir swatted four boundaries in his 22, but he chased one ball too many and thick-edged a wide Rampaul delivery straight down the throat of Andre Russell at third man to leave India 51-2.
The home side would have been in deeper trouble had new batsman Yuvraj not been dropped soon after by Darren Sammy at backward point when on nine.
The Windies captain then failed to hold a rising catch off his own bowling in the next over and his lapses proved costly as Yuvraj smashed Sammy back over his head for six to bring up the Indian 100 before plundering two boundaries off the previously effective leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo to record his fourth half century of the tournament.
Kohli was an able foil for Yuvraj's more aggressive approach and the pair kept the scoreboard ticking over before the former had a wild swipe at a straight one from Rampaul and was bowled for 59, although the Indians were well set at 173-3.
A clearly fatigued Yuvraj continued to push on and reached his first World Cup century with a single but his celebration was somewhat muted in comparison to the jubilation among the crowd.
Their joy was short-lived though as Mahendra Singh Dhoni (22) was beaten by a beautifully flighted delivery from Bishoo, who deserved a wicket in his final over, and Thomas whipped off the bails.
The stumping of Dhoni sparked another India collapse, not quite as severe as the 9-29 they suffered against South Africa, but the loss of seven wickets for 50 runs in eight overs will be of concern to the joint hosts of the World Cup.
Yuvraj's innings was finally ended on 113 when he tamely chipped a return catch to Keiron Pollard while Rampaul removed Yusuf Pathan and Zaheer Khan with full straight deliveries to complete his five-wicket haul either side of Pollard injuring his finger while taking an excellent diving catch to dismiss Harbhajan Singh.
The West Indies reply got off to a bizarre start when umpire Simon Taufel elected to not refer a run-out decision involving Kirk Edwards.
Television replays showed Edwards was several inches short of his ground when Pathan's throw dislodged the bails but a well-placed Taufel gave a not out call and by not going to the third umpire he handed the opener an unlikely reprieve.
The debutant immediately took advantage of his good fortune, launching Harbhajan down the ground for six but his eventful stay at the crease was ended in the next over, trapped leg before by Ravichandran Ashwin for 17.
Darren Bravo holed out at long-on, hitting a short Raina delivery straight to Harbhajan at deep mid-on to depart for 22 but Devon Smith steadied the innings, reaching his 50 and taking West Indies past 100, against some distinctly unthreatening bowling.
Left-arm seamer Zaheer bowled just two of the first 30 overs, but he made an immediate impact on his return, bowling Smith for 81 to awaken the diminishing crowd.
In the next, Harbhajan tempted new batsman Pollard with a floated delivery and the all-rounder dispatched the ball straight into the hands of Pathan on the long-on boundary.
Ramnaresh Sarwan was proving his usual stubborn self but he could only watch on helplessly as wickets continued to fall at the other end, Dhoni atoning for his own dismissal by stumping opposite number Thomas (2) off the bowling of Yuvraj.
Sammy was next to go, run out for two by Raina having backed up too far and from the relatively comfortable position of 154-2, West Indies were 162-6.
That became 165-7 when Russell guided a wide Yuvraj delivery straight to Pathan at gully without scoring and when Sarwan was caught in the deep by Ashwin off Zaheer for 39, their resistance was effectively ended.
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