WaybackWire

LONDON, Saturday.—The West Indies bowled India out for 183 in 54.4 overs in the final today, after Krishnamachari Srikkanth had given Kapil Dev’s side a dashing start.

Kapil said after Wednesday’s semi-final victory over England at Old Trafford: “It hurt me before the game when everyone said England would win easily. Now I’m thrilled to be going to Lord’s because people didn’t expect us to get to the final.”

Clive Lloyd won the toss and asked India, in their first World Cup final, to bat. He gave the new ball to Andy Roberts and Joel Garner in the hope that their greater accuracy would unsettle the openers, Sunil Gavaskar and Srikkanth. With the score two in the fifth over, Gavaskar edged Roberts to the wicketkeeper, Jeff Dujon.

Srikkanth hit seven fours and a six in the top score of 38. Malcolm Marshall replaced Roberts for the 11th over, and when Srikkanth hooked him, Desmond Haynes hurt himself trying to stop the ball and had to leave the field. Marshall had Srikkanth lbw at 59. Lloyd had said of him after Wednesday’s semi-final against Pakistan: “Malcolm Marshall seems to get quicker all the time. He is just about as fast as Michael Holding was a few years ago and the wickets here at The Oval seem to suit him.”

Mohinder Amarnath was bowled by Michael Holding for 26 at 90, and Yashpal Sharma, on 11, was caught by a substitute fielder at deep extra cover off Larry Gomes. At lunch, after 32 overs, India were 100 for four, Kapil not out 6 and Sandeep Patil not out 3.

The holders survived a challenging start by India to take charge, and in seven overs the Indians went from 90 for two to 130 for seven.

Patil made 27 before he was caught by Gomes off Garner, and Kapil 15, caught by Holding off Gomes. Marshall bowled Madan Lal for 17 and Holding bowled Syed Kirmani for 14. Balwinder Sandhu was 11 not out at the end.

Roberts took three for 32, Marshall two for 24 and Holding two for 26.

LONDON, Saturday.—Clive Lloyd, 38, was applauded all the way to the wicket at Lord’s this afternoon in what is certain to be his last World Cup final. He was in trouble almost at once.

The groin muscle the West Indies captain strained in Wednesday’s semi-final against Pakistan appeared aggravated as he took his first single, and Desmond Haynes came out as his runner.

Lloyd had reached eight when he drove Roger Binny uppishly to mid-off, and Kapil Dev took his second catch of the innings.

Lloyd said yesterday of Viv Richards, his choice as successor: “He’s been my vice-captain for a couple of years and he has the experience.”