Yuvraj Singh stars in India victory

India 268 West Indies 188 (India win by 80 runs)

Yuvraj Singh hit a century and claimed two wickets to guide India to an 80-run victory over the West Indies in their last World Cup Group B match in Chennai today.

The victory put India second in their group and secured a quarter-final against Australia in Ahmedabad, while the Windies are left to face Group B toppers Pakistan in Mirpur.



Yuvraj showed his all-round capabilities in the match by scoring 113 off 123 balls and then returned to pick up Devon Thomas and Andre Russell to complete a memorable outing.



Chasing 269 for victory, the West Indies briefly raised hopes of making a match of the target - with Devon Smith providing the start with a compact 81 - but Zaheer Khan's late three-wicket burst bowled them out for 188 in 43 overs.



Earlier paceman Ravi Rampaul, coming in for the injured Kemar Roach, brought up his first five-wicket haul to halt the rampaging India batsmen and restricted them to 268 all out.



Batting first after winning the toss, India made a steady start despite Sachin Tendulkar (two) and Gautam Gambhir (22 off 34 balls) falling early to Rampaul.



Yuvraj and Virat Kohli kept the West Indies bowlers at bay with their positive batting and reached their half-centuries, and soon brought up their 100-run stand.



India reached 160 for two in 30 overs and appeared to be switching gear, but Rampaul cleaned up Kohli (59 off 76) to allow the Windies a foothold.



Yuvraj, along with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, attempted to maintain the momentum by adding 45 in 9.2 overs before Devendra Bishoo had the India captain stumped for 22.



By then Yuvraj had moved past his best World Cup score - 83 against Bermuda in 2007 - and six overs later reached his 13th one-day century off 112 balls.



Yuvraj then lost his partner Suresh Raina - caught by Rampaul off Darren Sammy - and a couple of overs later a sharp return catch from Kieron Pollard ended his terrific innings.



With Yusuf Pathan still at the crease India looked for a late blitz, but Rampaul yorked out the big hitter and along with Russell (two for 46) polished off the tail.



India were bowled out for 268 in 49.1 overs, with the last seven wickets falling for just 51.



In reply the West Indies made an assured start with opener Smith dropping anchor after the dismissal of Kirk Edwards (17) and Darren Bravo (22) by the 19th over.



Smith reached 50 off 64 balls and along with Ramnaresh Sarwan added 63 from 13.3 overs to keep them in the hunt, needing 115 needed off 120 for victory.



A bowling change did the trick for India as Zaheer and Harbhajan Singh dismissed Smith (81 off 97 balls) and Pollard respectively to leave the Windies on 157 for four.



The collapse continued when Thomas was stumped by Dhoni off Yuvraj and captain Sammy was run out a couple of overs later, leaving Sarwan with only the tail for support.



Yuvraj ended Russell's stay and the Caribbean team had lost five wickets for 11 runs in under seven overs.



With 101 needed off 12 overs with three wickets remaining, Sarwan and new man Sulieman Benn took the batting powerplay, but the left-hander became Zaheer's second wicket as the Windies slid to 179 for eight.



Sarwan's attempt to pull off an unlikely victory was halted by Zaheer before the right-hander had made 39 off 68.



The end came when local boy Ravi Ashwin cleaned up Rampaul to bowl the West Indies out for 188 with 42 balls remaining.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: A tight game between Northampton and Bradford

A tight game could be in prospect here. Northampton have been keeping things very tight of late and ...

by Gareth Purnell

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: Feeling ill and racing in the rain must be pretty grim

I can’t ever watch games of football or rugby without wistfully wondering what it must be like to be...

by Martin Ayres

PSG and the French league must be more proactive in dealing with hooliganism

Since PSG’s exit to Barcelona in the Uefa Champions League quarter-final in April, PSG have been sur...

by Matthew Riding

       
Career Services

Day In a Page

The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

The experts' guide to summer

From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in
The real thing? Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'

The real thing?

Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'
Gordon Ramsey's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

Gordon Ramsay's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

The pugnacious chef finally met a shambolic restaurant he couldn't save. John Walsh on when TV makover refuseniks fight back
Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

Glamorous myth of the flight attendant lifestyle undermined by angry employee's claims of 'exploitation'
Braising saddles: Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it!

Braising saddles: How to cook horse meat

Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it! Will Coldwell hoofs it to the kitchen.
Why bitters are back on the bar: A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails

Why bitters are back on the bar

A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails. No wonder we're learning to love them again...