West Indies' Ramnaresh Sarwan celebrates after scoring the winning run against Pakistan.
- REUTERS
SOUTHAMPTON, (AP):
WEST INDIES vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan thinks the region's cricket revival is finally coming together.
The West Indies beat Pakistan by seven wickets on Wednesday to set up a Champions Trophy final showdown against hosts England at the Oval tomorrow.
As well as lifting spirits in the Caribbean, winning will also give the Windies a measure of revenge after England's Test whitewash this year. England won 3-0 on tour over the Windies in April, following it up with a 4-0 home series win last month.
The West Indies were helped on Wednesday by the decision of Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq to bat first on a Rose Bowl pitch renowned for favouring the
chasing team.
Wavell Hinds took 2-27, including the prize wicket of Inzamam, as the West Indies restricted Pakistan to 131 runs from 38.2 overs. The West Indies reached the target of 132 runs for the loss of three wickets in 28.1 overs in overcast, blustery conditions.
"One thing we haven't done in recent times is pull all three aspects together," Sarwan said. "Some times we bowled well, sometimes we batted well, some times we fielded well, but we were
outstanding in all three (against Pakistan). It's very important to us after Hurricane Ivan and we wanted to play well for the Caribbean.
"We need to take it one step at a time," Sarwan added. "We're not going to get back to the top in one day or one year, but hopefully this can be the start."
Sarwan top scored for the West Indies with an unbeaten 56. He set up the backbone of the innings with captain Brian Lara, who was forced to retire injured on 31 when he was struck on the back of the neck by a sharp bouncer from Shoaib Akhtar.
LARA EXPECTED TO PLAY
West Indies physiotherapist Andrew Simpson said Lara
suffered a short spell of dizziness and slight headache after leaving the ground, but is expected to play in tomorrow's final.
Akhtar was upset to have injured the veteran batsman.
"Lara is one of my favourite batsmen," Akhtar said. "I am sorry to have hit him but it was honest bowling. It was the first time I have bowled at him in eight years."
Lara's presence tomorrow will be a boost for the Windies, whose only consolation this summer was reaching the NatWest triangular series final at the expense of England in July. It lost to New Zealand in the final.
