Kaif, Dravid guide Indians

CENTURION: Middle-order batsmen Mohammad Kaif and Rahul Dravid shared an unbeaten century partnership yesterday to guide India to a comfortable seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup.

After India had survived some early scares, Kaif scored 68 and Dravid 53, taking their side to victory with 9.2 overs to spare in the Super Six stage of the tournament. Left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan took four wickets in yet another inspired showing by India’s pace bowlers as the New Zealanders stumbled to 146 all out from 45.1 overs. Then fast bowler Shane Bond briefly raised New Zealand’s hopes by reducing India to 21 for three. But Kaif and Dravid shared in an unbeaten 129-run fourth wicket partnership to steer their side home after both were dropped before reaching double figures.

“We have done very well so far,” said captain Saurav Ganguly. “We lost a couple of early wickets but we have quite a few matchwinners and it’s obviously good that all of them are hitting the ball well.” New Zealand are still half a point ahead of Sri Lanka but will be eliminated if the latter beat Zimbabwe in their last Super Six match today. Bond removed opener Virender Sehwag (1) and Ganguly (3) in his first two overs, the latter yorked by a 153 kms an hour delivery. Daryl Tuffey, at the other end, sent back Sachin Tendulkar for 15 after he had hit three consecutive fours. Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum spilled a big opportunity one run later when he dropped Rahul Dravid after Bond had induced an edge through sheer pace. Bond almost dismissed Mohammad Kaif for six but a leaping Chris Harris at point could only get his fingertips to the ball before it fled to the fence.

Khan put India on top in the morning after captain Saurav Ganguly had asked New Zealand to bat on a good pitch at SuperSport Park. The 24-year-old paceman struck twice with consecutive balls in the first over before New Zealand had scored a run. He finished with four for 42, including his 100th One-Day International wicket. New Zealand never recovered from the horrible start as Khan, fellow left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra and Javagal Srinath reduced New Zealand to 38 for three and 88 for six by the halfway mark.

The Kiwis recalled Craig McMillan to open the innings but Khan removed him for a second ball duck when he flicked a half-volley to Harbhajan Singh at square-leg. He then trapped Nathan Astle leg before first ball to an uncertain forward defence shot.  Nehra, who bowled impeccably, then beat Scott Styris (15) with late seam movement to make it 38 for three in the ninth over. Styris, who hit Khan’s hat-trick delivery for a couple down the ground and drove him through midwicket for his only four, was beaten by the bounce and movement to edge a catch to wicketkeeper Dravid. Khan, whose opening three-over spell went for 28 runs, switched ends to bowl Brendon McCullum (4) between bat and pad, his 100th one-day wicket.

New Zealand were teetering at 47 for four in the 14th over as Nehra conceded just nine runs in his first six-over spell after starting with two consecutive maidens. Only captain Stephen Fleming looked in control, top-scoring with 30, but he grew frustrated by the miserly bowling and sharp fielding to mis-hit Srinath to Tendulkar at mid-off to make it 60 for five.