India v West Indies, IndianOil Cup, Colombo

A hard-fought battle

Nagraj Gollapudi

August 8, 2005

Yuvraj Singh's punchy celebration spoke of the sport's frustrations and the relief with performing commendably under duress © Getty Images

The West Indies dressing room has developed a habit of applauding at end of games to appreciate good performances by team members. On Sunday evening Runako Morton and Denesh Ramdin would have been the recipients of the gesture, for they fought valiantly and took their team to the brink of a memorable victory. Though they lost by a slender margin, West Indies left the tournament with heads raised high.

While inexperience hounded them throughout - and Shivnarine Chanderpaul's loss compounded things - West Indies did nearly everything right. Sylvester Joseph, the replacement captain on Sunday, thought that although his team fought well their rawness hampered their chase. "We showed a bit of inexperience early on. We got off to a quick start, lost a few wickets and then we needed someone to stay there. We had Runako there and he batted tremendously along with Ramdin."

West Indies started solidly with Joesph and Xavier Marshall scoring quick runs. But a collapse followed. Anil Kumble, playing his first game of the season, wasted no time and applied pressure on the middle order, which duly succumbed. But Morton and Ramdin started gathering runs steadily and almost pipped the Indians.

Dravid paid tribute to them: "I was surprised that from 113 for six they fought so well. Not that we took it easy but we knew that Morton could bat but he had not done well so far in the tournament and Ramdin had looked a good batsman in the Tests against Sri Lanka. But for them to put such a big partnership, especially when chasing six runs an over, was creditable."

The seventh-wicket 83-run partnership was the highest of the innings and Morton, whose knock of 85 contained some big hits, recorded his tallest one-day score as did Ramdin, who remained unbeaten on 74. Morton admitted his return to form came late. "I had been struggling for most of the tour. I felt today was the perfect stage and we had a large total to chase so I though `[I will] just stay there, be aggressive and give it my all'. We had a game to win and it was do-or-die. Hard luck."

Another man who took the opportunity to repair his form was Yuvraj Singh. Yuvraj had recorded scores of 12 and 28 in the two games he had played so far in the tournament. As India were three down for 51 with Sourav Ganguly retired hurt, he regained his touch and, in the company of Mohammad Kaif, carried the Indians to safety. This was his third one-day century. The last one came two years ago. "Batting at five or six you don't get normally a chance to get in and get a 100," said Yuvraj, "and I was really happy with my effort after a long time."

Both teams agreed that the conditions were draining. And though the wicket was slow, it was a good one. "The wicket was slow at the beginning but once we settled and our partnership started going we knew that a score in the whereabouts of 220 would be good for us to defend," Yuvraj said. They achieved much more than that and, along the way, Yuvraj celebrated his hundred with a curious mixture of relief and aggression. He explained: "I [had been] angry with myself as every time I got a start I was getting out so it was frustration coming out."

With the focus now shifting to the final on Tuesday against Sri Lanka, Dravid knows a few areas remain that need to be brushed up if his team to win the tournament. "We have to watch out as we are letting the lower order bat a bit too long. It's something we are aware of and will correct that in the final."

Also of concern is the constant failure of the top order and the openers who have failed to provide good starts: their stands so far have been 17, 3, 67 and 21. But the Indian coach, Greg Chappell, is not unduly perturbed by that. "It's a concern but again, as Yuvraj showed today, that we have to get out there and get started. So there is no reason why good players can't make runs and we've got good players at the top of the order keen to make runs. I am reasonably comfortable."

The Indians have failed to beat Sri Lanka in the two league games but the one positive Dravid will take from the losses is that they were close finishes. And that's why he feels the pressure will be more on the Lankans. "They will be expected to win at home and the pressure will be on them."

Nagraj Gollapudi is sub-editor of Wisden Asia Cricket

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Matches

India v West Indies at Colombo (RPS)

Players/Umpires

Runako Morton

Denesh Ramdin

Yuvraj Singh

Series/Tournaments

Indian Oil Cup

Teams

India