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India face daunting World Cup target

Leicester, England, Wednesday - India, still reeling from the shock loss of master batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, produced a woeful World Cup display here on Wednesday as Zimbabwe set them a victory target of 253.

Worse still, India saw their innings reduced to 46 overs because of their slow over-rate, pushing up the required rate to five-and-a-half runs per over.

India, for whom defeat in the group A encounter could mean an early exit from the tournament, conceded a massive 51 extras, gifting Zimbabwe 37 extra deliveries.

As Tendulkar flew home to India for the funeral of his father in Bombay, his team-mates struggled after Mohammed Azharuddin put the Africans in on a good batting wicket.

Zimbabwe, who ended on 252 for nine, looked set to post an even more formidable total after reaching 202 for four with ten overs remaining.

But a late fightback, inspired by leg spinner Anil Kumble, restricted the damage.

Kumble removed Alastair Campbell (24) and Guy Whittall (4) in quick succession to slow Zimbabwe's acceleration.

He deceived Campbell with a delightful googly, drawing the left-hander down the wicket and presenting Nayan Mongia with an easy stumping.

The last five Zimbabwe wickets to go down cost 47 runs.

The Flower brothers, Andy and Grant, scored nearly half of Zimbabwe's runs.

Opener Grant struck 46 before occasional slow-medium seamer had him caught behind in his first over. Andy, coming in at number five, was unbeaten on 68.

India lost their first game against South Africa.