India captured the ICC One-Day International Championship Trophy for the second time in a row, by winning every game in their group, progressing to the semi-finals at the top of the points table then defeating England in a severely rain-affected match.
Twenty Overs Per Team
England won the toss and sent India in to bat. Opener Shikhar Dhawan scored 31 runs from 24 balls, Virat Kohli 43 runs from 34 balls and the in-form all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja 33 not-out from 25 balls. India scored a modest 129 runs for seven wickets in their 20 overs. For England, Ravi Bopara picked up three wickets for 20 runs from his four overs.
ENGLAND REACHED 124 RUNS FOR 8 WICKETS
England struggled just as India did, losing early wickets; but after a score of 46 runs for four wickets in the ninth over, 60 runs between Morgan and Ravi Bopara stretched the score to 110 runs in the 18th over, then Morgan fell for 33 runs off 30 balls. With 20 runs to win the game off 15 balls, with five wickets remaining, England ended their inning at 124 for 8 after 20 overs.. Ravi Bopara got out with the next ball after Morgan fell. For India, Inshant Sharma picked up 2 wickets for 36 runs, Ravindra Jadeja 2 for 24 and Ravi Chandran Ash with 2 for 15. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was excellent behind the stumps, taking out Ian Bell and the in-form Jonathan Trott.
India’s fielding was on top throughout the tournament. They played like champions and deserved to be crowned. India won every game in the regular season up to the final.
INDIA TRAVELs TO THE CARIBBEAN
India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies faceoff in a tri-series tournament. India will play the West Indies on Sunday, July 30 in Jamaica. West Indies so far has not shown any sign of modifying their strategy and the team will find it difficult to defeat India.
CRICKET INTELLIGENCE SHOULD PREVAIL
Cricket is not only about a bat and a ball. The game has reached a technological distance that cricketers must apply their supreme knowledge and at the same time apply and follow the rules of the sport. Denesh Ramdin received a severe penalty for his misjudgment for intended wrong doing. He was slapped with a 100 percent match fee fine and a two-game suspension.
The West Indies team has a winning group of players but needs some leadership from the head coach. The team also needs to apply a needed strategy, which can help the team to move forward.
SARWAN
Ramneresh Sarwan probably has played his last game for the West Indies. He should have no gripes, since he was given a full opportunity as a senior player to provide some stability to the team and failed. Darren Bravo is also under the microscope. He has to learn how to work the ball around before emngaging in ambitious stroke play. Now, Captain Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Devon Smith have to carry a heavy burden, not only in this tri-series but in the many series ahead.
