Johannesburg, October 01: India defeated West Indies by seven wickets in their last Group A match here Wednesday, but the win came little too late for them as Australia’s tense two-wicket victory over Pakistan earlier in the day knocked them out of the Champions Trophy.
Australia became the second team from Group A to qualify for the semi-final after Pakistan. In the semi-finals, Pakistan will face New Zealand while Australia will take on England.
India went into the match with a slim chance of qualifying for the semi-final and kept their eyes close to the other Group A encounter between Pakistan and Australia in the neighbouring city of Centurion.
India started off well, by opting to bowl first, and pacemen Ashish Nehra (3-22) and Praveen Kumar (3-31) shared six wickets to pack up the under-strength West Indies for 129 in 36 overs. Off-spinner Harbhajan also bowled well, taking two for 14 off eight overs.
By the time, India started the chase it was a lost cause for them. But youngsters Dinesh Karthik (34) and Man of the Match Virat Kohli (79 not out) played some valuable knocks to see India home safely.
India were off to a poor start after Gautam Gambhir (6) and Rahul Dravid (4) departed in successive overs to leave the innings stuttering at 12 for two. But Karthik and Kohli played sensibly with their 92-run stand for the third-wicket on a pace friendly pitch.
Earlier in the day, Kumar and Nehra bowled fiery opening spells to reduce the West Indies to 31-4 in 11 overs. But Darren Sammy (23), David Bernard (22) and Devon Smith (21) scored to take West Indies past the 100-mark.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni turned seamer after the drinks interval and got his maiden wicket in one-day internationals with his fourth delivery when he bowled Travis Dowlin for 14 and Karthik kept wickets in the remaining part of the innings.
–IANS–