Date-stamped : 06 Nov94 - 10:25 3 Nation One-day tournament FINAL India v West Indies Played at Eden Gardens, Calcutta, 5 November 1994 (D/N) ====> Early Report, Indian innings India Post a Challenging Score of 274 for Six Calcutta, Nov 5 (PTI) A scintillating 108-run opening partnership and some lusty hittings by skipper Mohammed Azharuddin and Vinod Kambli propelled India to a challenging score of 274 for six in the allotted 50 overs in their Wills world series final aginst West Indies at the Eden Gardens here today. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Sachin Tendulkr (66) and Ajay Jadeja (58) provided the perfect launching pad with the first ever century opening partnership against the Windies, before Azharuddin and Kambli tore the Carribean bowling to pieces with their swashbuckling knocks. After Tendulkar set ablaze the fully packed Eden gardens with his fireworks on what seemed to be an easy btting track, the runs started coming in torrents again in the last ten overs as Azhar (41) and Kambli 58 (not out) made a mockery of the famed West Indies pacemen. The West Indians are now required to score at a runrate of 5.50 for an outright victory. Vice captain Tendulkar gave ample proof of his prodigious batting talents as he plundered the runs at will before Cameron Cuffy brought an end to his aggression. ====> more Hosts India set the West Indies a stiff target of 275 in 50 overs to win the day-night final of the triangular series at the Eden Gardens on Saturday. The Indians, backed by a boisterous home crowd exceeding 100,000, took advantage of a slow wicket to pile up 274 for six after electing to bat first. The major contributions came from Ajay Jadeja (58), Sachin Ten- dulkar (66), skipper Mohammad Azharuddin (41) and Vinod Kambli, who smashed a whirlwind unbeaten 58 off 39 balls in the slog overs. The score was 49 runs more than India`s 225 in the Hero Cup final against the West Indies here last year, which the home team won by 102 runs. Jadeja and Tendulkar gave the Indians a flying start by putting on 108 for the first wicket in just 23 overs. Tendulkar hit seven boundaries in his 66 off 68 balls before lofting Cameron Cuffy to Stuart Williams at mid-off. Jadeja, who made 90 against New Zealand on Thursday, batted till the 33rd over before becoming young leg spinner Rajendra Dhanraj`s first victim of the match. The 20-year-old Dhanraj, bowling in only his second international, also dismissed Atul Bedade for three to finish with fine figures of two for 55 in his 10 overs. India, who were 175 for three in the 38th over, were boosted by a run-a-ball stand of 62 for the fourth wicket between Azharuddin and Kambli. The Indian captain hit 41 off 38 balls before holing out to the deep against off-spinner Carl Hooper. But left-handed Kambli carried India past the 250-mark with three boundaries and two sixes in his swashbuckling knock. The West Indians, beaten in all their three one-day matches at the Eden Gardens so far, face a target of 5.4 runs an over under the floodlights. Contributed by vasa (Vasanthan.Dasan@Central.Sun.COM) ====> Match Report Tendulkar Gallops Away with Man of The Match and Series Calcutta, Nov 5, (PTI) India scripted another glorious chapter in its cricket history with an emphatic 72-run victory over West Indies to emerge champions in the Wills World series at the floodlit Eden gardens here tonight. Skipper Mohammed Azharrudin and his men lived upto their reputation to shatter the carribean dream for the second time in less than a year after the hero cup triumph. Chasing a stiff target of 275 for an outright win, the West Indies run machine never really recoverd from the early jolts to be bundled out for 202 with six overs to spare. Only Keith Arthurton with a resolute 42 stood bravely amidst the ruins as wickets fell at regular intervals with none of the top order batsmen being able to stem the the collapse. Skipper Courney Walsh (30) and Anderson Cummins (21) made a valiant effort with some lusty hittings to reverse their fate, but spinners Anil Kumble and Venkatapathy Raju put an end to their belligerence to steer India to victory. Earlier, electing to bat first after winning the toss, the Indian top order virtually tore apart the west Indies bowling attack to pile up 274 for six in their allotted 50 overs. Sachin Tendulkar (66), Ajay Jadeja (58), Mohammed Azharuddin (41) and Vinod Kambli (58 not out) set the Eden Gardens ablaze with their fireworks much to the delight of a fully packed stadium. The West Indies innings got off to a cautious start as both the Indian pacemen Javagal Srinth and Venkatesh Prasad produced an impressive first spell giving very few liberties. But just when the two openers were coming to terms with the wicket, the hard working Srinath struck the first blow removing Stuart Williams who was just about beginning to look dangerous with the West Indieas score reading 46. Williams slammed Srinath to the mid wicket boundary but perished in the very next ball slashing to an outgoing delivery for skipper Azharuddin to bring off a smart catch at point. He scored 29 off 53 balls. The departure of Williams opened up the floodgates as wickets fell with embarassing ease with none of the West Indians putting up a fight to avenge their Hero cup defeat last November. However, it was the dismisal of superstar Brain Lara two overs later which allowed the hosts to take tight control of the proceedings as the visitors never recovered from the jolt. Lara, who has still not lived upto his true potential on this tour, had himself to blame for his early demise and paceman Venkatesh Prasad captured the prized wicket on an undeserving ball. Lara went for an off side drive to a ball pitched outside the off stump and only succeeded in playing it onto his stumps from the inside edge. He could score only one. The in-form Carl Hooper, who joined Phil Simmons with the visitors struggling at 49 for two, was distinctly uncomfortable with the spinners who were introduced into the attack in the 15th over and survived a confident appeal for leg before. The third wicket partnership yielded 19 runs before Simmons began his long walk to the pavillion trying to steal a non existent run from a fielder like Azhar. Simmons 21 came off 53 balls and he was at the crease for 82 minutes. Hooper and new man Keith Arhturton tried their best to pull the team out of the dumps and kept the scoreboard moving with gentle pushes and nudges but it was not long before left arm spinner Raju brought an end to the 33-run fourth wicket partnership. Spinner Raju obtained the vital breakthrough removing dangerman Carl Hooper and the Indians were truly in the driver's seat with the visitors reeling at 116 for five with their top batsmen back in the pavillion. Hooper who was shaping for a big innings failed to keep his drive on the ground and skipper Azhar brought off another simple catch at extra cover to give Raju his first wicket in the innings. Young Roland holder did not survive long falling prey to Sachin Tendulkar five runs later. Tendulkar's batting and bowling efforts earned him the man of the match and man of the series awards. Skipper Walsh and Cummins, however, were in no mood to surrender without a fight as they clobbered the Indian spinners in the late overs, but victory still remained a far cry for them. Raju came in for some harsh treatment from Walsh as he lifted him over mid on for a huge six and followed it with another over boundary in his next over. ====> more Cheered on by 100,000 boisterous home fans, the Indians batted first on a slow wicket and piled up a mammoth 274 for six in their 50 overs. They then shot their awe-struck rivals out for 202 with six overs to spare in the day-night encounter. India`s spectacular batting display revolved around Ajay Jadeja (58), Sachin Tendulkar (66), skipper Mohammad Azharuddin (41) and Vinod Kambli, who smashed a whirlwind 58 not out off 39 balls in the final overs. The West Indians, beaten by Pakistan in the Nehru Cup final here in 1989 and by India in the Hero Cup final last year, needed to score 5.4 runs an over. Openers Phil Simmons and Stuart Williams put on 46 for the first wicket by the 11th over, before the Indi- ans hit back with three quick wickets to reduce them to 68 for three. Williams was caught by Azharuddin at point off seamer Javagal Srinath, his 100th wicket in 68 one-day internationals, then Brian Lara made a single before playing on to Srinath`s new ball partner Venkatesh Prasad. Simmons was run out for 21 by Azharuddin, who then proceded to catch Carl Hooper off left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju and cap a brilliant all-round display. Jadeja and Tendulkar had givein the home team a rousing start by putting on 108 for the first wicket in 23 overs, Tendulkar taking 66 off 68 balls. Indian captain Azharuddin`s 41 came off 38 balls. India and the West Indies will now play the three remaining matches of a separate five-match one-day series that began before the triangular tour- nament. Both teams are tied at 1-1. ====> Comments from the captains Lara, Hooper dismissal turning point-rival skippers Calcutta, Nov 5 (PTI) Rival skippers, Md Azharuddin and Courtney Walsh, felt that the dismissal of Brian lara and Carl Hooper was the turning point which led to India beating the West indians to emerge champions in the Wills Trophy triangular series at the Eden gardens here today. "Batting second was a disadvantage for us, but still I was dissapointed at the way we batted because I still feel that the the score of 274 was chaseable", the West Indian skipper, Courtney Walsh told newsmen in a post match press conference. Walsh further said that Lara's dismissal in the early part of the match was a major blow and then Hooper's departure actually turned the match in India's favour. Indian skipper Md Azharuddin, said that the dismissal of Hooper, who at one stage looked dangerous following his century at Guwahati, was the turning point of the match. While praising his players he said that every batsmen batted well in the match and the bowlers, despite limitations, bowled fairly well. He said that he did not miss out any player in the match in an obvious reference to Manoj Prabhakar, who was dropped from the team following his questionable performance in the Kanpur match. ====> Match Sidelights Calcutta, Nov 5 (PTI) Following are the sidelights of the Wills Triangular World Series final, played between India and West Indies at the Eden Gardens here today. * For many who saw today's match as the tussle royale between Sachin Tendulkar and Brian lara, it was undoubtedly the former who galloped away with the honours. Sachin not only bagged the Man of the Match award for his sterling performances with both bat and ball, but was also declared "Man of the series." * And, glorying in the youngsters achievement were numerous others off the filed. a poster spoke for the other young Indian hearts in a crisp, filmy liner - Sachin Khiladi, Lara Anari. * A girdle of countless flaming torches and the thunderous roar of firecrackers around the Eden gardens marked the fall of the crumbling Windies bastion in the form of Cameron Cuffy. * As if the victory lap by the players was not enough, revelling Calcuttans thronged their way out of the stadium to constant whistling and bugling, holding the Tricolour aloft. Several overenthusiastic supporters also used the flag as a keffiyeh. * The nations triumph was perhaps an extension of Diwali for many who had stashed away a good supply of firecrackers for the day. Azhar and his boys did not disappoint them. (From misc.news.southasia) Contributed by S.Ramani (ramani@saathi.ncst.ernet.in)