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Untitled Document
 India shatter World Cup record to crush Bermuda
20th Mar 2007 03:15 IST
Agencies
The Indian batsmen finally lived up to their reputations and put up the highest World Cup score ever and then the bowlers bowled out Bermuda to pave way for the largest margin of victory, in terms of runs, in the history of one-day internationals at the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain in Trinidad on March 19.
Chasing a victory target of 414 runs, Bermuda were bundled out for 156 runs in 43.1 overs.
Zaheer Khan struck in the very first over to jolt Bermuda sending back Oliver Pitcher for a duck. He again struck in his fourth over to clean bowl Steven Outerbridge for 9.
Munaf Patel then struck rapping Delyone Borden (13) in front of the wickets.
Anil Kumble then struck twice in consecutive overs to claim the wickets of Bermudan captain Irvine Romaine (lbw) and clean bowling Janeiro Tucker – both for ducks.
Ajit Agarkar then took the next three wickets to reduce Bermuda to 110/8.
After frustrating Indian bowlers for a long time, Dwayne Leverock finally gave way by edging Sachin Tendulkar’s delivery into the hands of wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni after making 9 runs from 31 balls.
Kumble then took the last wicket to finish with figures of 3/38 – the same as that of Agarkar.
The only batsman who showed some resilience for Bermuda was middle order batsman David Hemp, who made his third ODI half century.
Earlier, Indian top guns, including Virender Sehwag, came out firing on all cylinders as the Men in Blue posted a World Cup record total of 413/5.
The total took them past their own best of 373/6 achieved at Taunton in 1999 as well as the World Cup highest of 398/5, which Sri Lanka had recorded against Kenya during the 1996 World Cup.
Among the batting stars, Sehwag (114) and Sourav Ganguly (89) first led the fireworks with a 202-run second wicket stand and later Yuvraj Singh (83) and Sachin Tendulkar (57 not out) finished off the run-riot with 122 runs for the fifth wicket.
Sehwag warmed the hearts of his dwindling supporters with his first century in 61 games and over two years, whacking 114 from 87 balls with 17 fours and three sixes. Yuvraj, on his part, thrashed 83 off just 46 balls with seven sixes and three fours.
Tendulkar, coming in at number six, did his own bit with 57 from 29 balls, inclusive of two fours and four sixes.
Sehwag, coming to bat at one down after his uncertainty with the new ball had led to Robin Uthappa being promoted as opener, whacked the amateurs from Bermuda to all parts of the ground.
In striking his eighth one-day century – his first in 61 matches – Sehwag outscored his partner Ganguly and reached his half century from only 43 balls with seven fours and a six. He was to reach his next 50 from only 38 balls as he peppered the hoardings and stands with ferocious shots.
Sehwag twice hit Hemp for consecutive sixes, lifting him straight and then over extra cover for maximum shots. He then hoiked Kevin Hurdle for a six over square leg and reached his century from 81 balls with a single off the same bowler.
The opener continued in his same marauding manner before hoisting a catch in the deep but Ganguly built on his impressive half century in the first game against Bangladesh with another sterling knock today though the left-hander struggled in aiming big shots on a slowish wicket.
Bermuda, who won the toss and chose to field first, got an early breakthrough when Malachi Jones struck off his first ball, forcing Uthappa to edge a steer to lone slip Leverock who dived to his right to accept the chance, his 120-kg frame heaving up and down in joy.
Ganguly was stumped in trying to heave spinner Borden out of the ground and departed cross with himself for missing out on becoming the fourth player to hit five World Cup centuries.
Australians Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh and India’s Sachin Tendulkar share the honour.
Yuvraj’s innings was notable for its sweet timing as much as the power he imparted in his strokes. Tendulkar too was all class and finesse and besides big shots also executed some clever hits.
Sehwag was adjudged the Man of the Match. |
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