TRELAWNY, Jamaica, 10 March 2007 — India secured a runway nine-wicket victory after its pace bowlers delivered a big blow to West Indies confidence in a warmup match yesterday just days ahead of the World Cup.
Munaf Patel snared four wickets and left-armer Irfan Pathan emerged from his shoulder problem to claim three as India’s seamers bundled the West Indies out of 85 inside 26 overs.
Opener Robin Uthappa (35 not out) and Dinesh Karthik (38 not out) then took India to 86 for one in 18.3 overs after the early dismissal of out-of-form Virender Sehwag (6), who again failed to make an impression.
The West Indies takes on 1992 champion Pakistan in the World Cup opener at Sabina Park, Jamaica next Tuesday.
Brian Lara was one of only three batsmen to make double figures after six West Indies wickets tumbled for nine runs in the middle order. Zaheer Khan delivered the first blow, having Shivnarine Chanderpaul (6) caught by wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni down the leg-side in the fourth over.
Ajit Agarkar removed Chris Gayle with the next delivery from the other end, getting an edge with a rising delivery that flew high toward slip and was well taken by a leaping Dhoni.
Ramnaresh Sarwan drove the ball to the fence twice before becoming the first of Patel’s four victims, edging a catch to Robin Uthappa at second slip and triggered the collapse that saw West Indies slump to 62 for eight.
Skipper Lara survived a catch to Yuvraj Singh at point, but was out for 22 when he popped a return catch to Pathan.
Lara’s decision to bat first after winning the toss was aimed at giving his batsmen some valuable practice ahead of the World Cup, but the West Indies batting is now facing a crunch period.
Patel (4-10) then removed Dwayne Bravo (0) and Denesh Ramdin (3), while Pathan (3-25) dismissed Kieron Pollard (2) and Marlon Samuels (0). Patel got back into the wicket-taking act, having Dwayne Smith caught by Dinesh Karthik at mid-on to end an 18-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Lendl Simmons. Simmons remained unbeaten on nine when leg-spinner Anil Kumble dismissed last man Jerome Taylor for a duck.
West Indies pacer Daren Powell got an edge from Sehwag into the gloves of Denesh in the second over before Uthappa and Karthik combined in an 80-run partnership, making India 2-0 in its warmup matches.
