Tony Becca

THE FIFTH and penultimate match of the preliminary round of the DLF Tri-Nations one-day tournament ended in Kuala Lumpur yesterday with India defeating the West Indies by 16 runs in a disappointing encounter.

Going into the match needing a victory in order to stay in contention for a place in Sunday's final, India won the toss, went to bat, and were dismissed for 162 in 39.3 overs. The West Indies, already in the final, replied with 146 in 41 overs.

While the result meant that India are still alive - that they can still make it to the final if they defeat Australia tomorrow and, that with the winner going through and the loser going home, there is still some excitement in the final match of the preliminary round, the match was a disappointment in every respect.

BAD BATTING

But for the batting of Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 65 with seven boundaries off 102 deliveries and Brian Lara, who scored 40 not out with six boundaries off 48 deliveries, and even though the conditions, as they have been throughout the tournament, were not ideal for batting, the batting on both sides was embarrassing.

It was as if India, who now have to defeat the mighty Australia, who are likely to be at full strength in order to make it to the final, were not interested in winning and it was as if the West Indies, already through to the final, were also not interested in winning.

It may not be so, and it should not be so, but the way the two teams batted, a fan, a neutral fan would be forgiven if he felt that India, at one stage reeling at 78 for six after some appaling strokes, did not want to win because they probably believe they cannot defeat Australia at full strength or near full strength, and that the West Indies, at one stage, sailing along merrily at 44 without loss before thier batsmen slit thier throats, did not want to win probably because they prefer to meet India rather than Australia in the final.