West Indies knock holders India out despite tied game

For Roger Binny and his 15-year-old wards, the fairytale ended abruptly on Wednesday. The former Indian all rounder, who was hoping to make this his third World Cup triumph, after his victory as a player in 1983 and as coach of the successful Under-19 team in Lanka in January this year will have to return empty handed. A rain interrupted match against the West Indies was adjudged a tie after the Duckworth Lewis method was applied. A valiant century from Hyderabad opener Ambati Tirupati Rayudu was in vain as holders India were knocked out of the Costcutter World Under-15 World Challenge on the basis of inferior run rate.

When West Indies skipper Tishan Maraj won the toss at the Eton College Ground he put a top heavy Indian batting order in to bat. Rayudu shone once more, scoring a century in the company of no less than six partners. Although his 139-ball 116 propped India up, the fact that no one else got past Ashraf Ali's 28 made a dent in the overall score India were able to achieve. Palash Jothi Das (22) and Subhash Dixit (15) were the only two other batsmen to make it to double figures. Krishmar Santokie with 4/30 was the pick of the bowlers. Fortunately for India, Rayudu's century was enough to push their score to 228. They were all out in 49 overs when the skies opened and drenched the ground.

The delay forced the Duckworth Lewis rule to be applied and West Indies were set a target of 173 for victory off a maximum 29 overs. If the West Indies had lost six or less wickets at this stage they would have been ahead of India and would be declared winners. As has happened more than once under the Duckworth Lewis rule, West Indies managed 172 for 6 in 29 overs and the match was tied.

Having to score at a brisk pace in the limited overs, West Indies went about their task with gusto. No batsmen wasted time at the crease. An almost run a ball 34 from allrounder Ravi Rampaul gave West Indies just the kind of start they needed. At one drop, Lendl Simmons, nephew of former hard hitting West Indian batsman Phil Simmons made 58 priceless runs. These two major contributions were strengthened by useful contributions from other batsmen.

The Indian bowlers' inability to take quick wickets compounded by the fact that they could not stem the flow of runs saw West Indies pull off a laudable tie. The result left India and West Indies with three points apiece in League A. Each had won one game (against Netherlands), lost one (to England) and tied one. This brought the net run rate into the picture and West Indies (+1.085) went through to the semifinals ahead of India (+407). Pakistan, runners-up in 1996, will play England in the first semifinal while South Africa take on West Indies in the second semifinal.