India’s strengths were all to the fore as they beat the West Indies to qualify for the Super League semi-finals. They won by 126 runs.
Openers Gaurav Dhiman and Cheteshwar Pujara put on a century partnership by the 12th over, with Dhiman absolutely pulverising the bowling as he reached his 50 of just 33 deliveries. He dominated the stand and it took a sharp bit of work by ‘keeper William Perkins down the leg-side to have Dhiman stumped off Sunil Narine for 74 (54 deliveries, 10 fours and 3 sixes).
There was little respite for the West Indies however, as Rohit Sharma and Pujara put on a 99-run stand. With fifteen overs to go, India were 209 for 2 and eyeing 300. A flurry wickets by Javon Scantlebury Searles coming back into the attack saw India pegged back but 284 set a tough target.
Perkins was out second ball and Dhiman then had the potentially dangerous Leon Johnson caught at slip with his first delivery. The West Indies never recovered and only a last-wicket stand of 49 gave there score any semblance of respectability.
India undoubtedly look the most dangerous side in the tournament and will play England in the first Super-League Semi-Final on the 15th. No one on either side will have forgotten that England beat India in a pre-tournament warm-up match.
Super League Quarter-Final 2: India v West Indies, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
INDIA WON BY 126 RUNS
India won the toss and elected to bat
India: 284 for 9 off 50 overs (G. Dhiman 74, C. Pujara 97, R. Sharma 50; J. Searles 6-68)
West Indies: 158 off 38.5 overs (A. Fletcher 44; V. Yomahesh 4-25, G. Dhiman 3-27)
Man of the Match: Gaurav Dhiman (India)
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Filed February 13 2006
