Pakistan's Naved-ul-Hasan Rana (left) is dismissed for zero, bowled by the West Indies' Corey Collymore (right), during their ICC Champions Trophy semi-final match at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, yesterday. Pakistan were all out for 131 runs.
- REUTERS PHOTOSSOUTHAMPTON,
England, CMC:
SET UP by their bowlers and formalised by their batsmen, West Indies cruised into the final of the ICC Champions Trophy limited-overs cricket series when they completed a seven-wicket triumph over Pakistan yesterday.
Chasing a modest 132 from the full allocation of 50 overs, West Indies hit the jackpot with 21.5 overs to spare when vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan drove a delivery from part-time bowler Yousuf Youhana through cover for a single.
Sarwan hit half-dozen fours and a single six in the top score 56 from 85 balls to earn the Man-of-the-Match award and lead West Indies into Saturday's final at The Oval in London against hosts England, opponents with whom they have become very familiar in recent months and they have a score to settle.
"We've played against England in a limited-overs series earlier in the summer and we did well against them and that may give us a psychological advantage against them," Sarwan said. "I am expecting that it will be a keen final."
The West Indies' victory was however, marred by a touch of concern for captain Brian Lara. The world record-breaking left-handed batsman retired hurt on 31 after he was hit in the neck by a bumper from fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in the 15th over when the total was 76 for two.
"Brian is alright," Sarwan
reassured. "He is getting treatment for the blow and will be fine for the final and so there is no need for us to worry at this stage."
Blessed with a helpful Rose Bowl pitch and overcast weather after they were surprisingly asked to field, West Indies
dismissed the Pakistanis for a modest 131 in 38.2 overs.
For Pakistan, Yasir Hameed's 39 from 56 balls that included half a dozen boundaries was the top score and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq supported with a sedate 21 from 44 balls.
Corey Collymore, Wavell Hinds and Dwayne Bravo, all gaining appreciable movement, finished with two wickets apiece.
"We were very much surprised that Pakistan decided to bat first and it would be hard for me to pinpoint any particular individual for special mention because it was a team effort," Sarwan said.
"I thought we played pretty well. In recent times, we have been performing well in the limited-overs form of the game and I hope that we will be able to
