TRINIDAD: CRICKET - Captains from India and Bermuda speak to reporters following their Wolrd Cup match

A Virender Sehwag century steered India to a record World Cup total as debutants Bermuda were crushed by the biggest ever one-day victory margin of 257 runs on (Monday March 19) India piled up 413 for five before Bermuda were skittled for 156 in the Group B encounter, allowing the 1983 champions to surpass Australia's previous record winning margin of 256, achieved against Namibia in 2003. "It was quite an easy wicket to bat on there wasn't much in it in terms of spin or any appreciatable sideways movement in the afternoon so having said that I think the margin of victory is pretty satisfying and at least it gets us intot he picture a little bit," Captain Rahul Dravid said at the post-match news conference. They also eclipsed Sri Lanka's previous Cup highest total of 398 for five made against Kenya in 1996. The result will keep alive India's qualification hopes after their shock opening game defeat by Bangladesh on Saturday. However, they still need to defeat a formidable Sri Lankan side convincingly in their third and final group game on Friday to be in contention if three teams tie on points. Sehwag emerged from a prolonged slump in form to blaze an 87-ball 114 for his eighth one-day hundred. He set the tone in a 202-run second-wicket stand with Saurav Ganguly (89) after Bermuda put India into bat. Yuvraj Singh (83 off 46 balls) and Sachin Tendulkar (57 not out off 29 balls) then tore into Bermuda's lightweight bowling to pile up 122 from just 63 balls for the fifth wicket. India's win would have been even more emphatic had it not been for Glamorgan's David Hemp, whose defiant 76 not out put India's victory celebrations on hold until the 44th over. Paceman Ajit Agarkar and leg spinner Anil Kumble took three wickets each.

ITN Source | March 21, 2007

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