Captain Ganguly debuts with win over Caribbeans

TORONTO, SEPT 12: An unbeaten century partnership between skipper Saurav Ganguly and opener Sadagopan Ramesh guided India to a eight-wick...

TORONTO, SEPT 12: An unbeaten century partnership between skipper Saurav Ganguly and opener Sadagopan Ramesh guided India to a eight-wicket win over West Indies in the opening match of the DMC Cup Cricket Tournament on Saturday. Ganguly 54 not out, in his first match as captain, and Ramesh 55 not out helped India to victory in the 38th over.

India8217;s gamble of opening with MSK Prasad and Ramesh paid off as the Andhra wicketkeeper made a chancy 24 that helped India past the 50 run mark in just over 10 overs.

Prasad fell in the 12th over with the team8217;s score on 54 when he edged an intended square cut off debutante Collymore to Christopher Gayle at point.Dravid 5 departed soon after in the 16th over when he gloved an express delivery from Courtney Walsh behind the wicket.

8220;It was a brilliant team performance, every one put his might behind this win. It8217;s great for our morale,8221; said Ganguly.

Scoreboard

West Indies: S Campbell st Prasad b Joshi 62, A Griffiths b Mohanty 1, S Chanderpaul stPrasad b Chopra 16, C Gayle b Robin 1, B Lara c Kanitkar b Robin 2, R Powell c Martin b Robin 37, R Jacobs lbw Chopra 19, H Bryan c MSK Prasad b Joshi 1, C Colleymore not out 13, R King c Martin b Mohanty 0, C Walsh c Martin b Prasad 1. Extras b2, lb2, w4, nb2: 10. Total all out in 46.2 overs 163

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-43, 3-48, 4-57, 5-121, 6-135,7-141, 8-155, 9-160.

Bowling: Prasad 8.2-0-38-1, Mohanty 10-2-31-2, Robin Singh 10-1-43-3, Chopra 10-3-17-2, Joshi 8-0-30-2.

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India: MSK Prasad c Griffith b Collymore 24, S Ramesh not out 55, R Dravid c Jacobs b Walsh 5, S Ganguly not out 54; Extras b0, w14, nb2, lb11 27.

Total in 37.3 overs, for 2 wickets 165.

Fall of wickets: 1-54 MSK Prasad, 2-59 Dravid.

Bowling: Collymore 8-1-29-1, Bryan 8-0-22-0, Walsh 7-2-20-1, King 8-0-39-0, Henry Gayle 6-0-37-0, Powell 0.3-0-7-0.

Man of the Match: Saurav Ganguly

Result: India won by eight wickets