World Cup Report Match 28: India v West Indies

Scorecard

Sometimes you have to wonder how the West Indies are still in this tournament. It isn't as though their fall down the international tree hasn't been well documented, or the troubles they have between players and board, as well as drawing from different nations in order to put a team together. However, even when everything goes wrong, there still seems to be that glimmer of opportunity in every match they play where if they just did one thing right at that time, they could win the game. And even in a match where they were pretty soundly defeated, there is cause for hope. Except that this isn't being followed through with any positive changes or initiatives.

Batting first, the Windies had to put on a big score. But even a novice can tell you where the problems lie in the Windies batting line up. Dwayne Smith, simply not up to this level. How he has played 104 ODI's shows how poor the back up players are going. Chris Gayle, either stationary or at 200kph. He is incapable of building an innings and playing for the team. If he is meek he prods out meekly. If he is swinging, he eventually just sings his way out. he did both here today, was dropped twice and then slapped a couple over the fence before predictably swiping to deep mid wicket to be dismissed. How did he think this helped his team's cause? All of the baloney and smoke blown up his arse for his 216 against Zimbabwe is again shown for what it is - a bully against the lightweights, no heart to try and survive for his team against the heavyweights. He also left Samuels for dead in running him out in a childish display of non-running. It's time commentators called him out for his constant poor showings rather than dribbling over his (very) occasional big shot innings.

India's pace men feasted on the bouncy wicket, and probably should have had the Windies out for under 150. However, beleaguered skipper Jason Holder, who must wonder what his future holds let alone his team's future, again showed some heart and guts to score 57, and the last three wickets scored more than the first seven to reach 182.

In reply the Windies fast bowlers gave their all, running in hard and using the wicket as best they could. India's own problems at the top order announced themselves again, while Russell cleverly outthought Kohli in having him hook down square leg's throat, and Rahane and Raina were outdone again. At 5/107, the game was still within the Windies grasp, but here Holder's inexperienced showed, and he went for spin when he really needed to unload his pace arsenal at the lower order in the hope of bowling India out, their only realistic chance of winning the game. Dhoni and Ashwin steadied the ship, and eventually passed the total 6 wickets down with more than 10 overs remaining.

India will have appreciated the solid workout ahead of their playoff games, and despite a couple of hiccups they appear to have their best XI firing at the right time. The West Indies, apart from few exceptions, are not only on the brink of being eliminated from the tournament, they are still a chance of finishing 3rd in Group B. It is an anomaly of the relative difference between the top four teams in this tournament and the rest. Logic suggests that even if they make the quarter finals, they cannot progress any further. The great magic of the game of cricket of course suggests that once you make the knockout stages... anything can still happen...