WI scrape through to 3 wicket win over India; make semifinal grade

Ahmedabad, Oct 26 (UNI) Ajit Agarkar nearly bowled India to an improbable victory after the Windies choked at death chasing 224 for victory before winning by three wickets with two balls to spare there by booking a Champions Trophy semifinal berth in the Super Eight Group 'A' match played at the Sardar Patel stadium here today.

Set a target of 224 to get in 50 overs, West Indies made heavy weather the chase after being 212 for four at one stage. They recovered in time making 224 for seven with two balls to spare.

Marlon Samuels at five and Carlton Baugh at one were at the crease when the winning runs were hit.

With this win, West Indies have booked their place in the semifinal of this tournament winning both there matches with one and a remaining against England who are still to register a win. India will now have to beat Australia on October 29 if they want to proceed further.

West Indies began their chase of 224 with Chris Gayle and Shivnaraine Chanderpaul laying a solid foundation as they carted the Indian bowlers for 74 runs in the first 15 overs.

Munaf Patel - as Jerome Taylor had done earlier in the day - bowled with pace and accuracy and repeatedly troubled both West Indian openers and removed the dangerous Chris Gayle, but not before Irfan Pathan's wayward bowling allowed West Indies to get off to a rollicking start.

Pathan began badly, sending the ball down the leg side, and it barely got better as he bowled both sides of the wicket, and a touch too full. Giving width to Gayle is about the surest way to get hammered in international cricket, and Pathan did just that. Gayle, leaving the ball alone well when it was required, held nothing back when it was in his zone. His drives through the off side were hit with such ferocious power that there was no need for the fielders to even move as the ball rocketed to the boundary.

However, Gayle after making a quick fire 34 off just 37 balls with seven spanking boundaries in the opening partnership of 43 runs, tried one big shot too many. Gayle tried to cart Munaf inside out over cover only succeeding in scooping with ball to R P Singh.

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