Had this been a basketball contest the coach would have certainly asked for time out after Stuart Clarke’s ‘11-ball, 23 runs’ overs and the West Indies, chasing 273, were 185/2 in 30 overs. But as luck would have it, it also proved to be the time for a drinks break, and Aussie coach John Buchanan got some time to rethink his plans.

In the history of the game this could have been one of the most experienced drinks team as Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath walked in with towels and pieces of paper from Buchanan’s famous red diary. But this was that rare day when the rivals had a plan that was better than the one in the red diary.

As the Aussie captain for the day Mike Hussey said, “I was really desperate for ideas when Ponting walked in and I bounced a few ideas off him.’’ But as Brian Lara promised on eve of the match, and also proved today, that the Aussies were not quite invincible.

The three-wicket win that the West Indies recorded today meant they qualified for the final today, barring a bizarre mathematical possibility. And in case India fancy any chance of meeting them they have to win their last two games. The road ahead seems tough as Rahul Dravid’s men meet a high-on-confidence West Indies on Wednesday and the wounded Aussies on Friday. To make matters worse, an abandonment due to rains will mean an early flight home.

The only positive for India today was the fact that Lara, finally, showed a way past the Aussies. He talked about discipline, aggression and fighting them at every turn. And that’s exactly what he and his men did. By bowling in the right areas the Aussies didn’t get a blazing start and they eventually managed an achievable score of 272 despite a run-heavy end.

... contd.