Kapil's heroic 175 helps keep World Cup dream alive

HT's report on Indian captain securing a win from a precarious position against Zimbabwe

- HT Correspondent

TUNBRIDGE WELLS: Indian captain Kapil Dev lashed a record-breaking unbeaten 175 to lead his team out of a crisis and beat Zimbabwe by 32 runs in an exciting World Cup Group B match in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.

India collapsed to 17 for five in the first 13 overs against pacers Peter Rawson and Kevin Curran, and were later reduced to 78 for seven, before Kapil Dev's breathtaking rescue lifted the score to 266 for eight in the 60 overs.

Zimbabwe, struggling at one time at 113 for six, made a late burst through Kevin Curran, who hit a brilliant 71, to total 234 in 57 overs.

Kevin at one stage raised his side's hopes of another victory by the sheer nature of his aggression. Of his eight boundaries six came in the last 45 runs.