Once again, the West Indies appeared to have a run chase well in hand, but their lack of depth, and confidence, saw them capitulate to an 80 run loss against India. Their bowlers had done reasonably well to restrict India to 268, helped by Sehwag's absence and Tendulkar's first over dismissal. Rampaul did much of the damage, finishing with 5/51, but Yuvraj Singh made a fine century, supported by 59 from Kohli and it seemed likely that the total was always going to be a stiff challenge for a West Indian side missing Chris Gayle.
However, a positive start was maintained through 30 overs, despite the loss of Edwards and Bravo, and at 2/154 in the 31st over a surprise seemed entirely plausible. Devon Smith had a fine 81 at that stage, but Zaheer Khan snuck a 73mph slower ball through him to start a collapse of 8/35 that restored things to their predictable outcome. After the top 4, the rest of the batting order totalled just 15 runs, with only Bishoo's 6no getting the seven of them past extras contribution of 14.
So the West Indies finish 4th in Group B, and will meet Pakistan, whose reward for a fine win over Australia is top spot in Group A and a very winnable quarter final. Without a Chris Gayle scorcher, or a Pakistan meltdown, Pakistan should have too much depth and too many answers for the West Indies. Sri Lanka will strongly fancy their chances against an erratic England, although England's formline in this tournament suggests that it is unwise to underestimate (or overestimate) them.
The safest bet in the quarters should be in the South Africa - New Zealand match, where it is as hard to see New Zealand's batsmen getting the better of Dale Steyn, as it is to imagine that their bowlers can contain the South African batsmen.
Most attention will be on the second quater final, where hosts India will meet defending champions Australia in Ahmedabad. Australia had the benefit of playing their first group game there, winning comfortably against Zimbabwe, but little else would seem to favour them. Brett Lee was their only good player in a sorry loss to Pakistan, and the bowling line-up wouldn't appear to be able to trouble India on a presumably slow pitch. Johnson and Tait have not been the force the Australians would have hoped, and while the spin contingent hasn't done any worse than expected, that's not saying much. If Tait and Lee are unable to make early inroads - ie get rid of Tendulkar and Sehwag early - Australia may well be faced with an insurmountable total to chase.
On paper, the Australian batting line-up would appear to easily be the match of the Indians, but with Ponting and White out of form, the Australians are too reliant on a great start from Haddin and Watson to build a substantial total. Although Mike Hussey has been able to come to Australia's rescue so many times in the tail-end of an innings, he might be left with too much to do here. Although it might smack of panic, Australia may well benefit from a couple of middle-order changes. David Hussey and Callum Ferguson might well be a better experience/youth bet than White and Smith right now.
The quarter finals will be played from Wednesday to Saturday.
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