Friday, October 27, 2006

by Sanjay Rajan

AHMEDABAD, India (Reuters): India coach Greg Chappell's comment in May that the West Indies had forgotten how to win is still motivating the Caribbean team, captain Brian Lara said on Thursday.

West Indies sealed a tense three-wicket Champions Trophy win with two balls remaining to take their sixth victory in seven meetings with India since Chappell made the remark.

"Going back to that statement Greg (Chappell) made in Jamaica, the guys are really determined each time they get out on to the field against India," Lara told a news conference.

"We've done that in the Caribbean, and in Malaysia we had a win and a loss.

Here again, most importantly, playing India at home, the guys knew the enormous task it was.

"Playing here in Ahmedabad, they would definitely have the advantage, with the crowd and knowing the pitch. We wanted to win, and we planned to win, and the guys executed well."

Man of the match Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan struck fifties as West Indies chased down 224 for victory for a place in the semi-finals of the tournament.

Needing 12 off 13 balls, the champions lost Runako Morton (45), Lara (5), Sarwan (53) and Dwayne Smith (0) in quick succession before Marlon Samuels struck paceman Ajit Agarkar to the point fence to help his side prevail.

India take on world champions Australia in Mohali on Sunday with the victors going through to the last four.

"I think the guys know what they have to do," India captain Rahul Dravid said.

"At the end of the day it is about putting the runs on the board and performing. There are only so many instructions and only so many net practices we can do."

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