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https://scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1737909/india-ruin-brendan-taylors-farewell-party-cricket-world-cup Other Sport
India ruin Brendan Taylor's farewell party at Cricket World Cup
Zimbabwe skipper smashes 138 in his last international but to no avail as India, steered by Raina and captain Dhoni, battle to six-wicket win
India's Suresh Raina dives to make the crease against Zimbabwe in Auckland. Raina rode his luck in surviving two dropped catches to make an unbeaten century. Photo: AFP
India and Australia wrapped up their World Cup group campaigns in style yesterday, paving the way for a knife-edge finish today when Pakistan, West Indies and Ireland will tussle over the last two quarter-final spots.
Defending champions India, who had already made the last eight, ruined Brendan Taylor's farewell party with a hard-fought six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Auckland for their sixth win in six games in pool B.
Suresh Raina survived two dropped catches during his unbeaten 110 - his fifth one-day international century - as India chased down a 288-run target in 48.4 overs.
Taylor had anchored Zimbabwe's 287 all out with a punishing 110-ball 138 in what was his last international after signing a deal with the English county side, Nottinghamshire.
The skipper smashed 15 boundaries and five towering sixes in his second successive century after making 121 against Ireland, although Zimbabwe had already been eliminated from a tournament in which they lost five of six games.
Raina and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made an undefeated 85, had a match-winning and unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 196 after India had been in trouble at 92 for four.
India can look ahead to a quarter-final in Melbourne against Bangladesh on March 19.
India's Mahendar Singh Dhoni hits a six in their World Cup match against Zimbabwe at Eden Park in Auckland. Photo: Reuters
"I had a good partnership with MS Dhoni. We lost wickets early on, but what we did was really good. When my team needed me most I needed to deliver," said Raina.
Taylor, who shared partnerships of 83 with Sean Williams (50) and 106 with Craig Ervine (27), admitted his side had not been consistent enough.
"We played some brilliant cricket, [but] we have been shoddy at times. It hasn't been a lot in it though, just a few dropped catches, and maybe finishing off the death bowling, but overall we have played some good cricket," said the 29-year-old.
Australia wrapped up second spot in pool A behind New Zealand as Mitchell Starc took four for 14 to help rout Scotland by seven wickets in rainy Hobart.
Scotland collapsed to 130 all out and only Matt Machan, with 40, looked dangerous.
Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor celebrates scoring a century against India, but they eventually fall to India. Photo: Reuters
Australia captain Michael Clarke then promoted himself to the top of the order ahead of their quarter-final in Adelaide on Friday by making a run-a-ball 47.
"Now it's the knockout stages. We need to play at our best and I think if we do, we can win," said Clarke.
Australia are still awaiting their quarter-final opponents although it seems likely they will avoid South Africa who appear set for a Sydney clash with Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Six of the eight quarter-finalists are known - New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and South Africa.
That leaves 1992 champions Pakistan, 1975 and 1979 winners West Indies and non-test side Ireland battling for the remaining two places out of pool B.
In Napier, the West Indies should beat the United Arab Emirates to grab fourth spot, but they will have one eye on the skies. Cyclone Pam, thousands of kilometres away in the South Pacific, could blow away their chances if it brings heavy rainfall to New Zealand's North Island.