SPORTS

Dravid admits collective failure

May 27, 2006 15:14 IST

Rahul Dravid acknowledged that his India team were soundly beaten by West Indies in the fourth one-day international on Friday.

The hosts won by six wickets with six overs to spare to take a winning 3-1 lead in the five-match series, a far cry from the close results that decided the first three contests.

"We didn't play well today, we were pretty much outplayed in all departments," Dravid told reporters. "We struggled to get used to these conditions, particularly with the batting.

"We haven't been able to get the kind of totals that have been expected of us. We're also not fielding as well as we have done in the last eight months," added the tourists's captain.

India won the first match by five wickets with a ball to spare before West Indies won the second game by one run and the third by four wickets off the penultimate delivery.

India totalled a mediocre 217 for seven, to which West Indies replied with 218 for four in 44 overs.

Dravid believes his team will learn from their setback as they prepare for the last game in Port-of-Spain.

"Sunday's match is another chance to learn about these conditions and for some of our boys to show that they can really play," he said.

WINDIES PREPARED

West Indies captain Brian Lara told reporters the home side had prepared for a strong showing by India on Friday.

"We spoke to the guys yesterday about how India were going to be desperate to win and how we needed an all-round performance from everyone to stop them every time they came at us," he said.

Lara then dismissed the suggestion that with the outcome of the series decided the match in Port-of-Spain was irrelevant.

"Sunday's game is very important, because we're going to try out some of our reserves," Lara said. "If we can beat India with them it will show that we are clearly the better team."

India went into the series as the third-ranked team in one-day cricket while West Indies were eighth.

The teams will clash in the first of four tests in St John's, Antigua on June 2.

Source: REUTERS
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