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India batter Bermuda, shatter records
After the lull comes the storm. Following a dismal loss to Bangladesh, Team India perfectly justified this saying by bouncing back strongly to win their World Cup match against Bermuda by a record 257 runs at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. India also broke the record for highest score in a World Cup by totaling 413 runs at the end of their 50 overs.
Playing like a vengeful squad that badly wanted a big victory, India did almost everything perfectly in their game against Bermuda. Despite playing against minnows of world cricket, the Men in Blue took things seriously and have put themselves back on track in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 race.
Indian batsmen displayed exemplary class and almost everyone in the top and middle order had a blast at the expense of Bermudans. Winning the toss, Bermuda put India in to bat first. Robin Uthappa was caught brilliant by Dwayne Leverock at the slip in the second over itself.
However, his dismissal was soon forgotten as the out-of-form Virender Sehwag started firing on all cylinders and blazed to a stupendous century in no time. His 114 runs off 87 balls not only earned him the Man of the Match award, but also reinstated everyone’s confidence in his abilities.
On the other side, Sourav Ganguly held fort and showed amazing strokeplay once Sehwag had reached his century. However, just when he looked set for yet another hundred, a little error of judgment saw him being stumped out unnecessarily at the score of 89.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni made a quickfire 29 off 25 and got out while trying to hit a six. Next came in the unconventional pair of Yuvraj Singh and Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar. Yuvi batted like a man possessed, hitting bowlers out of the ground at every alternate delivery. He made 83 runs in just 46 balls, hitting seven sixes on the way. Tendulkar too was in a hurry and scored 57 off 29, hitting two fours and four sixes. Indian batsmen made light weight of almost every Bermudan bowler, hitting them left, right and center at free will.
Skipper Rahul Dravid gave the Indian inning a perfect finish by hitting a huge six to take the total to 413 runs, the highest score in the history of Cricket World Cup. India’s 18 sixes in an inning also equaled South Africa’s record in one-day international cricket.
Bermuda were already shattered when they came in to bat. The total was simply unthinkable for them, as indicated by their approach to batting. Within no time, Indian pacers Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar saw off the Bermudan top order, and the score read 5-63 in the 19th over. David Hemp (76 not out) was the only man who stood in the way of Indian victory, trying to delay the inevitable for as long as possible.
Veteran spinner Anil Kumble took three wickets in quick succession and Hemp could do nothing but watch wickets tumble at the other end. The Bermudans were bowled out for 156 runs in the 44th over. India’s victory margin of 257 runs is the largest in one-day cricket.
India have overcome Bangladesh in terms of run rate, and are now back in reckoning as World Cup favorites. However, they will have to win the match against Sri Lanka to fancy any chances of reaching the Super Eights.
Brief Score: India 413/5 (Sehwag 114, Ganguly 89, Yuvraj 83, Tendulkar 57*) vs. Bermuda 156 (Hemp 76*)
Result: India won by 257 runs
Man of the Match: Virender Sehwag
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