The Hindu : Teams split points

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 19, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

Teams split points

By G. Viswanath

Benoni Feb. 18. The West Indies did not get full points from its Group `B' match against Bangladesh at the Willowmoore Park here Tuesday. It had to share the points with the fourth Asian team in the ICC World Cup as the umpires called off the match at 5 p.m. leaving the West Indies particularly disappointed because had it not been for the rain interruption, it would have pocketed the four points.

The `No result' between the West Indies and Bangladesh has improved the chances of South Africa making the Super 6 stage provided it wins its remaining three matches.

Bangladesh was 32 for two in 8.1 overs when play was stopped. The West Indies has six points from three matches and should win its next three matches--against Canada, Sri Lanka and Kenya--to qualify for the Super 6. It is possible that the second and third qualifier from Group `B' could be decided on net run rate.

After Ricardo Powell's cameo role, the South African skies took control of the things here. Thundershowers are so common in this part of South Africa. There is little one can do about it, not in the least the cricketers who always seem to be anxious and chant prayers in order to have an uninterrupted match. The former province of Transvaal, now with a totally Africanised name, Gauteng, often finds thundershowers than tourists visiting it with regularity. If it rains in Johannesburg, it must take Benoni along with it and soak it too.

It rained right through Monday night, which was sort of a forewarning. The skies changed colours, just to offer a grim reminder to the West Indies that it might rob it off two valuable points and make life miserable for the Caribbeans in their World Cup campaign.

The West Indies had a big stake in this match, which a London-based cricket writer had said was akin to a county match between Derbyshire and Leicestershire. Carl Hooper hoped to draw four more points from the match. It did not matter much to Bangladesh whose interest in the competition had probably become academic in nature. Everybody including the Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud probably knew how this match would conclude. But what must be emphasised is that Bangladesh put up its best display in the tournament after facing humiliating defeats against Canada and Sri Lanka.

Its bowling pack, out of which not one can be described as outstanding, exploited the conditions well enough to restrict the West Indies to 244.The pitch was palpably soft and it hampered natural and attacking stroke play. Rookie fast bowler Talha Jubair sprayed the ball around and conceded half a dozen wides as much as his new ball partner Manjurul Islam, whose left arm over the wicket asked questions of both Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds.

Both the openers were back in the pavilion by the tenth over leaving Brian Lara to take charge along with Shivnaraine Chanderpaul. This West Indies team has already put pressure on Lara. His response was in keeping with the reputation. He made a marvellous century against South Africa and was determined to repeat it against the Kiwis before he was outsmarted by Lou Vincent and Chris Cairns. The relayed `run out' had spelt doom for the West Indies.

On Tuesday, Lara showed his class again when making five elegant strokes. But even the master batsman had to cut off the frills because the ball was not behaving well off the pitch. A glimpse of sure and stylish batting was evident in the first two boundary shots that took the form of a back-foot forcing shot and a straight drive. But it was also a day when Lara was inclined to stay put, the reason why he took 109 minutes and 76 balls to make 46.

The partnership for the third wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul produced 68 runs. Runs were not flowing and accruing to the West Indies. Al Sahariar who had taken a good catch at slip to send back Hinds got into the action at cover to terminate the threatening innings of Lara.

Hooper provided the thrust, but Bangladesh did not let things to go out of control. Khaled Mahmud, Ehsanul Haque and Mohammad Rafiqe bowled containing spells and with support from men inside the circle, were able to secure wickets.

The West Indies batting depth was at any time going to show its true worth and Powell's explosive innings gave some substance, his four sixes and three fours putting the disciplined Bangladesh attack in disarray.

SCOREBOARD

<232><56,3,.5><232,0,100,80,0>WEST INDIES
<56>

W. Hinds c Al Sahariar
b Mahmud
18

(39b, 3x4)

C. Gayle c Hossain
b Islam
0

(5b)

B. Lara c Al Sahariar
b Haque
46

(76b, 5x4)

S. Chanderpaul
lbw b Haque
29

(53b, 3x4)

C. Hooper
c & b Kapali
45

(58b, 1x6)

R. Sarwan c & b Mahmud 13

(28b, 1x4)

R. Powell c Hossain
b Islam
50

(31b, 3x4, 4x6)

R. Jacobs (not out) 6

(8b)

V. Drakes (run out) 0

(3)

M. Dillon c Ashraful
b Islam
10

(6b, 1x4, 1x6)

C. Collymore (not out) 0

(2b)

Extras (b-1, lb-6,
w-13, nb-7)
27

— —

Total (for nine wickets
in 50 overs)
244

— —

Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Gayle), 2-40 (Hinds), 3-108 (Chanderpaul), 4-130 (Lara), 5-158 (Sarwan), 6-217 (Hooper), 7-231 (Powell), 8-231 (Drakes), 9-242 (Dillon).

BANGLADESH BOWLING

O M R W

Islam 10 0 62 3

Jubair 8 0 46 0

Mahmud 10 1 48 2

Haque 10 0 34 2

Rafique 10 0 44 0

Kapali 2 1 3 1

<232><56,3,.3><232,0,100,80,0>BANGLADESH

Al Sahariar c Gayle
b Drakes
5

(14b)

E. Haque b Dillon 12

(24b, 2x4)

M. Ashraful (not out) 8

(4b, 1x4)

S. Hossain (not out) 2

(7b)

Extras (lb-2, w-3) 5

— —

Total (for two wkts
in 8.1 overs)
32

— —