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 Hyderabad, Nov 16:
Faced with the prospect of an elimination, an inspired India
reversed their sliding fortunes with an emphatic 145-run victory
over New Zealand and romped into the final of the TVS Cup triangular
cricket series here last night. After the Indian mauling through
scintillating centuries by Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar
which propelled the hosts to a huge 353 for five, New Zealand could
never really recover from the early jolts to fold up for 208 in 47
overs with Scott Styris providing a semblance of resistance with a
determined 54.
The hosts, under
enormous pressure to deliver in the do-or-die floodlit encounter,
outplayed the Kiwis in all departments of the game in what turned
out to be a rather lop-sided contest. The Indians, who finished
their league engagements with 16 points from six outings, will now
lock horns with world champions Australia in the final at the
majestic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday. Australia had already
qualified for the final with 23 points from their six matches while
New Zealand, handicapped by the injury-induced absence of captain
Stephen Fleming, bowed out of the tri-series managing just ten
points.
 Electing to bat,
the Indians relied on a career-best 130 by Sehwag and Tendulkar's
91-ball 102 to pile up a mammoth 353 for five in their allotted 50
overs. In a bid to accelerate the pace of scoring even further,
Tendulkar went for a lofted shot but could not connect the ball
properly and Jacob Oram held on to a well-judged catch at long off.
Tendulkar struck 12 boundaries and a six during his knock. Sehwag
brought the spotlight on himself and displayed some amazing shots on
both sides of the wicket to not only notch up his sixth one-day
match century and the third against New Zealand but also silence his
critics who were sceptical about him making it to the
Australia-bound Test squad to be announced later.
 Ganguly, who
promoted himself to the number three position, also looked in fine
nick as he put on 74 runs with Sehwag for the second wicket to
consolidate the position for his team. But Styris got rid of the
Indian for 33, caught by Tuffey in the deep and Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh
(7) and V V S Laxman (3) also returned to the pavilion in quick
succession to leave India at 303 for five in the 46th over.
Rahul Dravid,
however, showed a rare glimpse of aggressive batting as he spanked
the Kiwis bowlers to all corners of the park much to the delight of
the crowd. The Karnataka batsman struck five fours and three sixes
during his unbeaten 22-ball 50 while Mohammad Kaif remained not out
on 15. (Agencies)
Published: Sunday,
November 16, 2003
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