West Indies. India cruise into final

Press, 24 June 1983, Page 28

West Indies. India cruise into final

NZPA London The West Indies and India will meet in the Prudential World Cup cricket final at Lord’s tomorrow night after recording easy wins in yesterday's semi-finals. The West Indies beat Pakistan by eight wickets at the Oval, while India caused another huge shock by eliminating England with a six'wicket victory at Old Trafford, Manchester. The West Indies always had the Oval semi-final at their mercy and allowed Pakistan only 184 from its 60 overs. The Pakistani batsmen were never able to force the

Windies a challenging target and only after the twentyfifth over did the runrate rise above two runs an over.

Mohsin Khan top scored for Pakistan with 70 but his slow scoring hindered his side’s cause. Malcolm Marshall, the best of the West Indian bowlers, got rid of the dangerous Imran Khan with the score at 139 to set up a 14ball burst in which he claimed three wickets for three runs. The Pakistan total of 184 for eight was never going to be enough and the Windies wiped off the target for the loss of only two wickets

with more than 11 overs to spare.

The master batsman, Viv Richards, made an unbeaten 80 and has scored 294 for once out in his last three innings.

He made 119 against India last Wednesday and 95 not out against Australia last Saturday before yesterday’s marvellous exhibition. The consistent Larry Gomes made an unbeaten half-century for the West Indies. Meanwhile at Old Trafford, India, which had won only one World Cup match before this series, completely outplayed the host country to record its most important limited-over vic-

tory. The Indians thrashed Australia by 118 runs at Chelmsford last Monday and continued with that great form yesterday. England looked set for a total of well above 300 when Chris Tavare (32) and Graeme Fowler (33) added 69 for the first wicket at better than four runs an over.

But the Indian bowlers stuck to their task magnificently and, backed up by superb fielding, were able to complete the England innings at 213 with the last ball of the 60 overs. India then set about its run chase in tradesmanlike style.

Sunil Gavaskar (25) and Krish Srikkanth (19) put together a 46-run opening stand but both were out with the total at 50. Yashpal Sharma and Mohinder Amarnath put on 92 for the third wicket and by the time Amarnath was run out for 46 India had the match well in its grasp. Sharma was finally out for 61, but when he fell, less than 10 runs were needed. Sandeep Patil hit a boundary from the last ball to bring up his 50 from only 33 balls and give India victory by six wickets with more than four overs in hand. Amamath’s double of two

for 27 and 46 earned him the man of the match award. At the end of the match one of the umpires, Don Oslear, hit two fans with a stump, lashing out to prevent spectators from stealing the stumps as souvenirs. The game ended in a near riot when thousands of fans rushed on to the pitch as Patil cover-drove Willis for two to tie the scores at 213. It was then that Mr Oslear used a stump to hit one youth in the stomach before three policemen dragged him away. It took several minutes to clear the ground before Patil hit the single that saw India home and sparked

another pitch invasion. Mr Oslear thumped another fan as he ran back to the pavilion and said: “If we don’t protect ourselves we will get trampled upon. If they’re prepared to have a go than I'm prepared to have a go back.

“In fact I reckon I sent two fans to hospital at the end of the England v. New Zealand game at the Oval. I worked on a dockside for 30 years and I know how to dish it out if I need to. “The police superintendent said I did such a good job today that he wanted me to join his force. It was such a pity a magnificent day had to end like that,” Mr Oslear said.