The West Indies qualified for the next phase of the Decades tournament following an astonishing 10 wicket win against the Rest of the World at Eden Gardens.
Imran Khan won the toss and elected to bat first on a track that was expected to assist the spinners late in the game. West Indies were without Richie Richardson who succumbed to illness while the Rest of the World missed their New Zealand al-rounder Richard Hadlee for the same reason.
The World XI batted well, managing 294 all out in their first innings. Javed Miandad top scored with 70 and Malcolm Marshall took 4 for 50 for the visitors.
The West Indies then crumbled with the bat, collapsing to 182 all out after being 135 for 4. Ravi Shastri found turn and bounce, taking for 4 for 47, while Larry Gomes top scored for the West Indies with 56, following on from his century in their last match. West Indies were all out late on Day 2, leaving an hour for the World XI to negotiate.
A scintillating final hour followed as Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner tore through the World XI. Marshall found plentiful swing, enjoying humid conditions and taking 2 for 24. The star of the show was Joel Garner however who blew his way through the batting order with pace and bounce, taking 4 for 54. The World XI were 47 for 8 when Imran Khan and Kapil Dev came together and managed to help them to some respectability. They added 66 for the 9th wicket, with Imran scoring 42. Kapil Dev was unbeaten on 33 when the World XI were all out for 128.
West Indies needed 241 to win, but nobody expected what was to follow. Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge batted superbly, dispatching bowlers to all parts as the West Indies cruised to a 10 wicket win. There was no turn for the World XI spinners and little swing or seam movement for their quicks. Haynes finished unbeaten on 127 and Greenidge on 113 in an amazing opening partnership of 244.
West Indies qualify for the next round and will clean sweep the group with a victory over Australia next round. The Rest of the World must now wait for their final game and hope to beat England in Pakistan to have a chance to qualify.
Joel Garner was well deserving of the Man of the match award for his brilliant 2nd innings bowling performance.
Rest of the World 1980s: Mudassar Nazar; RJ Shastri; DB Vengsarkar; Javed Miandad; MD Crowe; M Azharuddin; Imran Khan [c]; Kapil Dev; JG Bracewell; Abdul Qadir; Wasim Bari [w]
West Indies 1980s: CG Greenidge; DL Haynes; IVA Richards [c]; HA Gomes; AL Logie; PJL Dujon [w]; RA Harper; MD Marshall; CEL Ambrose; J Garner; CA Walsh
Rest of the World 1980s 1st Innings 294-10 (80.4 Ov)
Javed Miandad 70, RJ Shastri 58, M Azharuddin 54, MD Marshall 4-50, CA Walsh 2-48, RA Harper 2-71
West Indies 1980s 1st Innings 182-10 (72.3 Ov)
HA Gomes 56, PJL Dujon 29, RA Harper 25, RJ Shastri 4-47, Abdul Qadir 2-30, Mudassar Nazar 2-36
Rest of the World 1980s 2nd Innings 128-10 (51.3 Ov)
Imran Khan 42, Kapil Dev 33*, J Garner 4-54, CA Walsh 2-14, MD Marshall 2-24
West Indies 1980s 2nd Innings 244-0 (54.3 Ov)
DL Haynes 127*, CG Greenidge 113*
West Indies 1980s win by 10 wickets
Man of the match: J Garner
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