Sarwan props up Windies

Ramnaresh Sarwan slammed an unbeaten 91 in host West Indies8217; modest 230 for five against Bangladesh at the World Cup on Thursday.

Ramnaresh Sarwan slammed an unbeaten 91 in host West Indies8217; modest 230 for five against Bangladesh at the World Cup on Thursday. Sarwan came close to his maiden World Cup century as he helped resurrect the West Indies from a top-order slump and slow run-rate in the Super 8s game.

Seeking their first limited-overs international win over the West Indies, Bangladesh pinned the West Indies down. Sarwan then shared an innings-building partnership of 81 for the fourth wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who compiled an 85-ball 50.

Sarwan struck two sixes and five boundaries off 90 deliveries to keep West Indies moving as the once all-conquering side sought to avert its fifth successive Supers 8s defeat.

Brian Lara contributed a 27-ball cameo of 33 which featured two sixes before he lofted Razzak to Javed Omar in the covers.

West Indies is the only team not to have won a match in the Super 8s league that even featured victories for unheralded Bangladesh and debutant Ireland.

Two-time World Cup winners West Indies and unheralded Bangladesh are both out of title contention having failed to make it to the last four.

Defending champions Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and South Africa have already filled in the semi-final spots.

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The West Indies are hoping to salvage some pride from their last two outings after being outplayed in the previous four matches, while Bangladesh are looking to post their third shock win of the tournament against a Test-playing nation. They have already stunned former champion India in the preliminary round and South Africa in the Super 8s.

The hosts still have another game left, Saturday8217;s match against England in what will be a precursor to their test and limited-overs series in England starting next month. The game in Barbados is expected to be Brian Lara8217;s last in one-day cricket. West Indies got off to a torrid start, losing openers Devon Smith 5 and Chris Gayle 1 with just eight runs on the board.

The Bangladesh seamers justified captain Habibul Bashar8217;s decision to put the opposition in after winning the toss.

Smith perished in the third over as he played inside the line of Mashrafe Mortaza8217;s outswinging delivery that hit his off stump.

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Five deliveries later, paceman Syed Rasel removed out of form Chris Gayle, whose poor run of scores continued as he was trapped leg before.

SCOREBOARD

West Indies: C Gayle lbw b Rasel 1, D Smith b Mortaza 5, S Chanderpaul b Ahmed 50, M Samuels c Rahim b Saqib 31, R Sarwan not out 91, B Lara c Omar b Razzak 33, D Bravo not out 9

Extras: 3-lb, 7-w 10; TOTAL: for 5 wickets 230.

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-8, 3-55, 4-136, 5-196.

Bowling: M Mortaza 10-2-39-1, S Rasel 10-2-48-1, A Razzak 10-0-44-1, M Rafique 10-0-46-0, S Hasan 8-0-38-1, A Ahmed 2-0-12-1