WI pull off big win

Dellmar photo
West Indies players celebrate the dismissal of India's top batsman Sachin Tendulkar (left) for a 'duck'. The successful bowler was Man-of-the match Corey Collymore (second left).

HARARE, CANA-Reuters:

WEST INDIES upset the form book with an aggressive and determined performance yesterday to beat India by 16 runs in the triangular limited-overs series final at Harare Sports Club.

The West Indians, beaten twice by India in the group stages, hit back with the highest total of the competition, making 290 for six in their 50 overs after being sent in to bat.

They then reduced India to 80 for five before the match drifted to its inevitable conclusion that gave West Indies their first limited-overs series triumph since they conquered the Indians in a competition in Singapore two years ago.

Chasing 291 to win, India ended up with 274 for eight. Although a sixth-wicket partnership of 101 between Reetinder Singh Sodhi and Samir Dighe restored some pride, the result was never in much doubt.

Dighe was left not out 94, after hitting seven fours and two sixes in 95 balls. Sodhi was caught in the deep off Man-of-the-Match Corey Collymore for 67, having blasted five fours and three sixes off 76 deliveries.

Sodhi hit captain Carl Hooper for two of his sixes, although the first should have been caught by Daren Ganga at long-on rather than being helped on its way over the ropes.

It was Collymore who did much of the early damage for West Indies, picking up three wickets in a fine opening spell.

Sachin Tendulkar, who before the final had been dismissed just once in scoring 282 runs, only lasted four balls. He was removed without scoring after attempting a pull and splicing the ball high to Ganga at mid-on.

Ganguly was trapped lbw by Collymore for 28 and the same bowler then had Venkata Laxman caught off an attempted pull.

Mervyn Dillon picked up the fourth wicket, Virinder Sehwag clipping him tamely to square leg.

India were then reduced to 80 for five when Rahul Dravid was bowled off an inside edge by Reon King for 30. He faced 32 balls and struck six fours.

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