Cricket World Cup: West Indies are out

Oh the humanity!  Hosts West Indies have lost their fourth game on the trot in front of a soulless, three-quarters empty cricket ground; a more perfect metaphor for this World Cup you could not find.

The Proteas were not going to be made to look silly again and were back to their menacing best with the bat as they racked up an imposing 356 in their 50 overs; aided by some of the  most nonsensical tactics ever seen by Brian Lara.  AB de Villiers scored his maiden test centry despite suffering cramp, dehydration, and probably yellow fever in the Grenada heat.  Lara delayed the final powerplay until the 44th over, at which point Gibbs and Boucher gorged themselves with runs in the wide open boundary spaces.  Lara will no doubt awake at night in a cold sweat about this decision for many years to come.

West Indies were never going to catch that total as their batting has not been up to it, and their mental attitude has been even further behind.  They fell 67 runs short on 289 after a brave effort by the ever diligent Sarwan and impressive Powell.  [lee calvert]