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Emphatic victory for India

TRELAWNY (Jamaica): India coasted to an emphatic nine-wicket victory over West Indies in their World Cup warm-up match here on Friday.

Chasing a meagre target of 86 runs, India, after losing Virender Sehwag for a disappointing nought, rode on solid batting by Robin Uthappa (35) and Dinesh Karthik (38) to romp home by nine wickets in 18.3 overs.

Earlier West Indies slumped to an embarrassing 85 all out. Medium-pacer Munaf Patel snared four wickets and left-armer Irfan Pathan emerged from his troublesome shoulder to claim three as India's seamers ripped through West Indies.

West Indies takes on 1992 champion Sri Lanka in the World Cup opener at Sabina Park, Jamaica next Tuesday.

Brian Lara was one of only three batsmen to make double figures after six West Indies tumbled for nine runs in the middle order.

First blow

Zaheer Khan delivered the first blow, having Shivnarine Chanderpaul (6) caught by wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni down the leg-side in the fourth over.

Ajit Agarkar removed Chris Gayle with the next delivery from the other end, getting an edge with a rising delivery that flew high toward slip and was well taken by a leaping Dhoni.

Ramnaresh Sarwan drove the ball to the fence twice before becoming the first of Patel's four victims and triggerring the collapse that saw West Indies slump to 62 for eight.

Skipper Lara survived a catch to Yuvraj Singh at point, but was out for 22 when he popped a return catch to Pathan.

Lara's decision to bat first after winning the toss was aimed at giving his batsmen some valuable practice ahead of the World Cup, but West Indies batting is now facing a crunch period.

Patel (4-10) then removed Dwayne Bravo (0) and Denesh Ramdin (3), while Pathan (3-25) dismissed Kieron Pollard (2) and Marlon Samuels (zero).

Patel got back into the wicket-taking act, having Dwayne Smith caught by Dinesh Karthik at mid-on to end an 18-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Lendl Simmons.

Simmons remained unbeaten on nine when leg-spinner Anil Kumble dismissed last man Jerome Taylor for a duck.

Proteas protest

At Port of Spain, Trinidad, the World Cup warm-up match between South Africa and Pakistan went ahead on Friday despite criticism from the Proteas that uneven bounce made the pitch dangerous.

South Africa made 199 all out in 48.3 overs.

England collapses

At Kingston, St. Vincent, Shaun Tait took four wickets to help Australia bowl out England for 197 after Brad Hogg started a collapse in a World Cup warmup match.

At Bridgetown, Barbados, New Zealand set Sri Lanka a challenging 286 to win their World Cup warm-up match with Stephen Fleming, Lou Vincent and Peter Fulton scoring half centuries.

The scores:

At Trelawny (Jamaica): West Indies: C. Gayle c Dhoni b Agarkar 6, S. Chanderpaul c Dhoni b Zaheer 6, R. Sarwan c Sehwag b Patel 13, B. Lara c & b Pathan 22, D. Bravo c Harbhajan b Patel 0, K. Pollard c Dhoni b Pathan 2, D. Ramdin c Sehwag b Patel 3, M. Samuels lbw b Pathan 0, L. Simmons (not out) 9, D. Smith c Karthik b Patel 13, J. Taylor lbw b Kumble 0, Extras (w-9, nb-2) 11; Total (in 25.5 overs) 85.

Fall of wickets: 1-14; 2-14; 3-53; 4-53; 5-57; 6-61; 7-62; 8-62; 9-80.

India bowling: Agarkar 7-1-27-1, Khan 6-1-22-1, Pathan 6-0-25-3, Patel 6-0-10-4, Kumble 0.5-0-1-1.

India: R. Uthappa (not out) 35, V. Sehwag c Ramdin b Powell 0, D. Karthik (not out) 38, Extras (lb-8, w-3, nb-2) 13; Total (for one wkt. in 18.3 overs) 86.

Fall of wicket: 1-6.

West Indies bowling: Taylor 6-0-31-0, Powell 7-0-21-1, Collymore 3-0-11-0, Bravo 2.3-0-15-0.

At Kingstown (St. Vincent): England 197 in 48.3 overs (M. Vaughan 62, Ian Bell 56, S. Tait four for 33, S. Clark three for 16) vs Australia.

At Bridgetown (Barbados): New Zealand 285 for eight in 50 overs (L. Vincent 70, S. Fleming 65, R. Taylor 30, P. Fulton 59) vs Sri Lanka.

Port of Spain (Trinidad): South Africa 199 in 48.2 overs (J. Kallis 29, A. Prince 35, L. Bosman 53) vs Pakistan.

Thursday's matches:

Scotland 152 for nine in 50 overs lost to Bangladesh 156 for three in 34.1 overs (S. Hasan 45, H. Bashar 47 not out).

At Jamaica: Kenya 274 for eight in 50 overs beat Netherlands 265 for nine in 50 overs (B. Zuiderent 65, D. Reekers 75, R. ten Doeschate 50, S. Tikolo five for 48).

At Kingstown (St. Vincent): Bermuda 136 in 50 overs lost to Zimbabwe 137 for four in 29 overs (C. Chibhabha 30, S. Williams 72 not out).

At St. Augustine (Trinidad): Canada 115 in 32.5 overs lost to Ireland 116 for three in 25.5 overs (J. Bray 41 not out). — Agencies

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