Friday, October 20, 2006

by Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com

MUMBAI, India: Former Australian captain Ian Chappell was full of praise for West Indies captain Brian Lara, after the batting star adjusted well to batting later in the order and guided the defending champions to an upset victory over world champions Australia in the second game of the ICC Champions Trophy on Wednesday.

The triple world record holder with the bat came down the order at number six, rather than his usual number three or four spot, to slam an impressive half-century, which helped the West Indies defeat title favourites Australia by 10 runs.

"We all know that he (Brian Lara) is a champion batsman, but he proves also that he is pretty smart tactically in today's game by dropping himself down to no. 6," Chapel said after the game in Mumbai on Wednesday.

"I think the idea was to hold together the West Indies middle order which has been a bit fragile and also if there was some spin in the pitch he is the best qualified batsman in the West Indies side to handle it and it proved to be a master stroke.

"He came in and he joined Runako Morton," Chapel explained. "Morton was playing steadily, just looking to bat in a traditional style and with Lara there he just seemed to relax and suddenly things just started to come and then Lara really moved into top gear.

"I mean the crowd really appreciated Brian Lara. It was a wonderful gesture. When he actually marked his crease for the first time they applauded him as if to say, Brian we appreciate what you have done in your career and we would like to see it one more time. Well they got to see it," the Australian legend commented.

The Trinidadian hit two glorious sixes, a pull shot off Shane Watson that flew over the boundary and a superb flick off Brett Lee, which left Chappell in high praise.

"That was worth the entrance money, just those two shots," he said.

Lara went on to score 71 runs off 94 balls, including seven fours, in 122 minutes, while Morton hit an undefeated 90 runs from 103 balls, polished with seven boundaries and one six.

Jamaican pacer Jerome Taylor then took a hat-trick to seal the win for the title holders at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. He finished with four wickets for 49 runs.

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