London: India stormed into the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy with a resounding eight-wicket victory over West Indies on Tuesday, riding on Shikhar Dhawan’s second consecutive ODI century.
The Indians first restricted the boys from the Caribbean to 233 for nine as Ravindra Jadeja (5/36) ripped through the middle-order and Dhawan yet again took centrestage with dazzling strokeplay to give India their second win in as many matches in Group B.
The 27-year-old, who made a spectacular Test debut against Australia, had scored a match-winning 114 against South Africa in the tournament opener.
The left-hander yet again sizzled here as his unbeaten knock of 102 helped the men in blue chase down a target with 65 balls to spare. Dhawan smashed 10 fours and a six in the process.
The three-figure mark was achieved with a slashed six off Dwayne Bravo over backward point and then played dot balls to allow his partner Dinesh Karthik (50 no) to complete his well-deserved half-century.
India thus made it to the last four of the Champions Trophy after a gap of 11 years, with the last time being way back in 2002.
The opening pair is turning out to be a smash hit in the tournament as yet again Dhawan and Rohit Sharma got off to a great start, adding 101 in only 15.3 overs to lay the foundation of a comfortable victory.
Sharma, who is revelling in the role of an opener again scored a half-century.
His 52 came off 56 balls with seven boundaries.
While Virat Kohli (22) couldn’t cash in, Karthik, who hit eight boundaries in his 54-ball knock, proved to be an able ally to Dhawan as the duo added 109 runs for the undefeated third wicket stand in 19.1 overs.
The West Indian attack looked loose and stingless on a placid wicket.
Sharma and Dhawan paced their innings nicely.
Most of Sharma’s seven boundaries pierced the gap between point and extra-cover.
India scored at a slightly better pace than the West Indians. The first 10 overs produced 66 runs with almost equal contribution from the openers but Sharma broke free getting to his 50 first off 52 balls.
India lost their first wicket when Sharma was out for 52 in the 16th over. The TV umpire overturned the on-field umpire’s decision after West Indies successfully reviewed an appeal for caught behind against Sharma. Hotspot revealed a faint nick and Sunil Narine finally broke the opening stand.
Earlier on a cloudy day, Indian skipper MS Dhoni opted to field after winning the toss, man-of-the-match Jadeja’s maiden five-wicket haul broke the back of the West Indies batting. Only a late charge by Darren Sammy (56 not out off 35 balls) lifted the West Indians past the 200-mark.
Jadeja picked up three West Indian wickets in a space of 14 balls on a cloudy morning which proved to the turning point of the innings. The wicket of Johnson Charles, LBW to the Jadeja after scoring a classy 60, opened the floodgates as West Indies slid from 103 for two to 109 for four wickets.
India will now play Pakistan in Birmingham on Saturday. (PTI)
SCORECARD
West Indies:
C Gayle c Ashwin b Kumar 21
J Charles lbw b Jadeja 60
Da Bravo st Dhoni b Ashwin 35
M Samuels lbw Jadeja 1
R Sarwan c Dhoni b Jadeja 1
Dw Bravo c Jadeja b Yadav 25
K Pollard c Kumar b Ishant 22
D Sammy not out 56
S Narine c Karthik b Jadeja 2
R Rampaul b Jadeja 2
K Roach not out 0
Extras: (b-4, lb-2, w-2) 8
Total: (9 wkts; 50 overs) 233
FOW: 1-25, 2-103, 3-105, 4-109, 5-140, 6-163, 7-171, 8-179, 9-182
Bowling: Kumar 8-0-32-1, Yadav 9-0-54-1, Ishant 10-1-43-1, Ashwin 9-2-36-1, Kohli 4-0-26-0, Jadeja 10-2-36-5
India:
R Sharma c Charles b Narine 52
S Dhawan not out 102
V Kohli b Narine 22
D Karthik not out 51
Extras: (b-4, w-5) 9
Total: (2 wkts; 39.1 overs) 236
FOW: 1-101, 2-127
Bowling: Roach 6-0-47-0, Rampaul 6-0-28-0, Narine 10-0-49-2, Sammy 4-0-23-0, Bravo 5-0-36-0, Samuels 4-0-17-0, Gayle 1-0-11-0, Pollard 3.1-0-21-0