India return with consolation win

Manoj VATSYAYANA

Fast bowlers Ashish Nehra and Praveen Kumar shared six wickets to set up India’s consolation seven-wicket victory over under-strength West Indies in the Champions Trophy here on Wednesday.

Left-arm seamer Nehra finished with 3-31 and Kumar with 3-22 as India dismissed the West Indies for 129 before achieving the modest target with more than 17 overs to spare in the day-night match.

Virat Kohli (79 not out) and Dinesh Karthik (34) built on their bowlers’ efforts with a 92-run stand for the third wicket to steer them home in an inconsequential match.

Man-of-the-match Kohli hit two sixes and nine fours in his solid 104-ball knock for his second half-century in nine one-day internationals.

But India were already knocked out of the competition following Australia’s tense two-wicket win over Pakistan in a day match at Centurion on Wednesday, while the West Indies were out of the tournament before this game.

“We now have to prepare for the next one-day series against Australia (at home in October),” said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“We could have won the first game (against Pakistan) but didn’t. It is important to get into the groove. We came back well against Australia (in a rain-hit match). I am pleased with the bowlers.” Australia topped the four-team Group A with five points from three matches, followed by Pakistan (4/3), India (3/3) and the West Indies (0/3).

Australia and Pakistan advanced to the semi-finals. AFP