West Indies’ shock win over India leaves England’s group wide open
A sensational all-round performance from Dwayne Bravo inspired West Indies to a shock seven-wicket victory over India at a packed Lord’s. West Indies reached their target of 157 with eight balls to spare, thanks to a knock of 66 from 36 balls from Bravo, who had earlier taken 4/38.
After a dismal tour of England, where the team has often looked demotivated, West Indies have now beaten the world 50-over champions, Australia, and the world 20-over champions within a week.
The result throws England’s group open and opens up the possibility that England could qualify for the semi-finals with a single win, over either India (whom they play on Sunday) or West Indies (whom they play on Monday.)
It was an amazing innings from Bravo that ultimately silenced the massive India support. With 10 overs left, West Indies still needed 93 runs, with talisman Chris Gayle already back on the bench. (Remarkably Gayle had been pinned down for the first maiden of the tournament, by Harbhajan Singh, in the last over of the Powerplay, before top-edging a catch off Yusuf Pathan.)
The turning point was the 17th over, bowled by Ishant Sharma, which went for 16: Bravo hit a slower ball back over Sharma’s head for six before Shiv Chanderpaul cut Sharma for four; throughout the pair were scrambling singles and turning ones into twos and putting pressure on the Indian fielders.
With four runs needed off the last nine balls, Bravo hit a low full-toss from Zaheer Khan high over extra-cover to win the match with a six. A sensational finish to a sensational match.
Earlier West Indies had pinned India back by taking a series of early wickets. Fidel Edwards, bowling at 90mph-plus removed Rohit Sharma (rushed into a top edged pull) and new No 3 Suresh Raina (gropin outside off-stump and edging to Ramdin) to leave India 27/2 in the fourth over. Bravo then picked up Gautam Gambhir, thanks to a sensational catch from Lendl Simmons, sprinting back from point to take a diving catch off a high ball.
India were struggling on 40/3 after the Powerplay.
It took 67 off 43 balls from Yuvraj Singh to bring them up to respectability – though Yuvraj later admitted that the team had really needed to reach 170 on a good Lord’s pitch.
