|
DAILY NEWS ONLINE |
|
|
|
OTHER EDITIONS |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
OTHER LINKS |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Dravid guides India to easy winDAMBULLA, Sunday - Indian captain Rahul Dravid showed his liking for the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium when he made his fourth score of over fifty in as many matches here to guide his team to an easy six-wickets win over a depleted West Indies side in the second match of the IOC tri-nation series under lights today. The West Indies looked totally inept in this game and their inexperience showed on the field in all departments as they were bowled out for 178 off 47.4 overs and when India started their run chase they were let down by poor fielding and catching and the waywardness of the bowlers who conceded 18 wides. Defending a small total, dropping catches was a luxury and the West Indies paid dearly for it. India propped up by Dravid's unbeaten innings of 52 off 65 balls (7 fours) coasted home with 14 overs to spare losing four wickets. Dravid's half-century followed scores of 104 against UAE and 82 against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup tournament last year and 54 against Sri Lanka in the current tournament on Saturday. He was named man of the match. The Indian captain renowned for his cool in tight situations steadied his side after they had lost three for 82. Left-hander Yuvraj Singh (28) helped him add 61 off 100 balls for the fourth wicket and MS Dhoni stayed with his captain to knock the runs off in an unbroken stand of 37. The top order batting was held by Mohammed Kaif (24), promoted to open the innings and newcomer Suresh Raina (35) who added 65 off 62 balls for the second wicket after India had lost an off colour Virender Sehwag for just two in the second over. Raina survived two chances at nought and at 27. If either of them had been taken, West Indies had the chance to exert some pressure on the Indian batting, but it was not their day. Winning the toss and batting first West Indies put up a deplorable display of batting to be dismissed for 178. Making their first appearance in the tournament the West Indies hardly made an effort to get on with it. Instead they indulged in over defensive tactics that hardly raised the game to a level that could be called entertaining. Although Narasingh Deonarine top scored with 41 he used up 91 balls. The best batting came briefly from Dwayne Smith who smashed 20 off seven balls inclusive of two sixes and a four, and Tino Best whose 24 off 21 balls comprised three fours. The rest of the batsmen dawdled at the crease as if they had still not got Test cricket out of their system. In the event, all the Indian bowlers sported very good economical figures with part-time bowler Virender Sehwag being the most expensive with two for 39 off six overs. The only partnership of note was between Deonarine and skipper Shiv Chanderpaul (22) who added 52 off 103 balls. Tomorrow is a rest day and the tournament resumes on Tuesday with Sri Lanka meeting West Indies. WEST INDIES
X.M. Marshall c Dravid b Harbhajan 26
R.S. Morton lbw b Pathan 1
C. Joseph run out 3
N. Deonarine lbw b Sehwag 41
S. Chanderpaul lbw b Raina 22
R.L. Powell b Sehwag 1
D.R. Smith c Dhoni b Harbhajan 20
D. Ramdin b Nehra 24
T.L. Best c Raina b Zaheer 24
D.B. Powell b Nehra 0
J.J.C. Lawson not out 3
EXTRAS (b-2, lb-6, nb-1, w-4) 13
TOTAL (all out, 47.4 overs) 178
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1, 2-2, 3-32, 4-84, 5-85,
6-109, 7-140, 8-172, 9-172, 10-178.
Bowling: Pathan 9-3-29-1, Zaheer 9.4-2-3-21 (1w),
Harbhajan 10-1-24-2, Nehra 9-2-23-2 (3w),
Sehwag 6-0-39-2 (1nb), Raina 4-0-23-1.
INDIA
M. Kaif c Joseph b Best 24
V. Sehwag c Ramdin b Lawson 2
S. Raina c Marshall b Smith 35
R. Dravid not out 52
Yuvraj Singh b Lawson 28
M.S. Dhoni not out 15
EXTRAS (lb-5, nb-1, w-18) 24
TOTAL (4 wkts, 36 overs) 180
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-3, 2-68, 3-82, 4-143.
Did not bat: Y.V. Rao, I.K. Pathan, Harbhajan Singh,
Zaheer Khan, A. Nehra.
Bowling: D. Powell 10-1-44-0 (6w), Lawson 10-0-66-2 (9w, 1nb),
Smith 10-0-37-1 (2w), Best 5-0-26-1 (1w),
Morton 1-0-2-0.
|
|
|
