Pool B: India Vs West Indies played At Perth
India 185/6 (MS Dhoni 45*, V Kohli 33, Extras 26, JE Taylor 2/33, AD Russel 2/43) beat West Indies 182 All Out (JO Holder 57, DJG Sammy 26, Chris Gayle 21, JE Carter 21,Mohammad Sami 3/35, RA Jadeja 2/27, UT Yadav 2/43) by 4 Wickets.
Another 30 runs of West Indies could make it a different story. India scored similar score at Lords in 1987 against West Indies in the epic final and won it. That time West Indies was runaway favorite to win the Prudential World Cup but India could upset them. This India is looking great in defending their title. West Indies could only scare them. At Lords Master Blaster Vivian Richards failed to inspire West Indies Victory this time MSD did it but in his gay cavalier helicopter operator mood.
India assured its berth to quarter as possibly the top of the group. MCG will be full again on 19 March for the quarter with either Bangladesh or England. West Indies need to win the reaming match to get through.
West Indies opportunities was greatly hinging on Chris Gayle to unleash another blistering Innings. But Indian bowlers ran riot in Caribbean top order reducing them to 7/85 by 25th over. It was a combination of good aggressive bowling and fielding and poor application by West Indian batting. Only saving grace was a good 57 by Captain Holder. A score of 182 is never a challenge to the present Indian batting line up at anywhere in the world. All Indian bowlers bowled to a plan. Mohammad Sami, Umesh Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja were more successful. But Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohit Sharma also bowled well. Indian bowling is looking great with the business session of the World Cup looming.
West Indian bowling and fielding also matched the Indians. India was given their first real scare of the World Cup when West Indies reduced them to 78 for 4 and 134 for 6 in a chase of 183. Indian top order showed their weakness to quality fast bowling. Finally MS Dhoni navigated the team India them through to an eventually comfortable win with four wickets in hand and 10.5 overs to spare.
India is looking the team to go all the way to the top four along with hosts New Zealand and Australia along with South Africa unless Kumar Sangrakkara inspired Sri Lanka can rock one of them. Few dramas are still to be unfolded. ICC need India, Australia among top four in any case as it is highly unlikely now that England will make it. We would like to see how India plays in New Zealand as they have mostly played in Australia so far. Perth is the only match where they played on a wicket not doctored to Indian prescription and they struggled. Deep thinkers can guess what happens behind the screen at ICC. Cash cow must continue milking.
BDST: 0851 HRS, MAR 07, 2015
