Another inexplicable batting collapse upstaged a career-best spell from Ravi Rampaul and another fine innings from Devon Smith to condemn West Indies to an 80-run defeat against India in the World Cup yesterday.
Smith continued his rich vein of form with 81 from 97 balls, as West Indies, chasing 269 for victory from their allocation of 50 overs, were dismissed for 188 with 42 balls remaining in the final group match of the competition at the Chidambaram Stadium.
West Indies lost their last eight wickets for 34 runs in the space of 76 deliveries, slumping from the relative comfort of 154 for two in the 31st over.
Rampaul had captured five wickets for 51 runs from 10 overs playing for the first time in the tournament, as India were dismissed for 268 in 49.1 overs after they chose to bat.
He, however, had to share the spotlight with Yuvraj Singh. The Indian left-hander defied dehydration and broke his drought of hundreds, when he gathered 113 from 123 balls that included 10 fours and two sixes.
West Indies had virtually qualified for the quarter-finals before the match had started, but the defeat condemns them to face Group-A winners Pakistan in the first match of the Super Eight on Wednesday at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, Bangladesh.
