Scorecard:

West Indies: 169 for 6 (20 overs)

(Gayle 98 off 66 balls, Chanderpaul 23 off 29 balls, Nehra 3 for 35)

India: 155 for 9 (20 overs)

(Dhoni 29 off 18 balls, Roach 2 for 38)

The West Indians didn’t expect to reach beyond this stage. So they went about their task in a very sedate manner, just keeping their wickets intact. They had 80 runs for the first wicket partnership in 11.5 overs. Not impressed? Me too! However, Gayle as is his wont tore apart the bowlers in the next few overs and brought about an impressive addition of 89 in remaining 8.1 overs.

However, 169 could not be too far for an Indian batting line up. Or was it? Indians tried too hard to get into the drivers seat of a vehicle running down the slope. They couldn’t. They couldn’t get over the nightmare of the Gayle blow. They kept running till the end but never arrived. Dhoni tried his bit, but his bit has become too less lately. To their discredit, the West Indian bowlers never looked impressive, and the complete credit must go to the Indian batsmen for losing their own wickets.

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Scorecard:

England: 168 for 7 (20 overs)

(Pietersen 53 off 33 balls, Kieswetter 41 off 42 balls, Morgan 21 off 14 balls, Botha 2 for 15, Langeveldt 2 for 34, Morkel 2 for 40)

South Africa: 129 all out (19 overs)

(Duminy 39 off 25 balls, Sidebottom 3 for 23, Swann 3 for 24, Broad 2 for 26, Yardy 2 for 31)

England were off the block to a great start finally in this World Cup. Now, with their tail already up in earlier matches, this ensured that they ended up at a fair target. Pietersen dominated the attack and they were 98 for 1 in 11.1 overs. However, they barely managed to survive the same rate in the remaining overs even though they had ample wickets.Botha was very effective in curbing the remaining batsmen.

South Africa began their chase on a disastrous note. Soon they were floundering at 53 for 5 in 9.5 overs. With half the overs gone and all of the batsmen done, it was neigh impossible task. To their credit Duminy-Boucher put 37 in 3.4 overs and then Duminy-Botha added 21 in 2.4. Everyone tried but it was too much an ask.

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