KEY POINTS:
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - India were knocked out of the cricket World Cup after Bangladesh beat debutants Bermuda in the final group B match today to qualify for the Super Eights.
India, the 1983 champions and finalists four years ago, were condemned to their earliest exit since 1992 when Bangladesh clinched a seven-wicket win in the rain-marred match at Queen's Park Oval.
Bangladesh progressed beyond the first round for the first time after reaching a revised target of 96 with 21 balls to spare.
Bermuda had scored 94 for nine in a match reduced to 21-overs-a-side.
Sri Lanka, champions in 1996, topped the group by winning all three of their matches while India were eliminated after managing only one victory.
Bangladesh, who upset India last week, only needed to avoid defeat to reach the next stage with Sri Lanka.
The Indians were relying on Bermuda to cause an upset to sneak through on a better net run rate.
Bermuda paceman Saleem Mukuddem briefly raised Indian hopes with three quick wickets before Bangladesh coasted to their target.
The seven-week tournament ends with the final in Barbados on April 28.
SCOREBOARD
(match reduced to 21 overs per side):
Bermuda
S Outerbridge c Rafique b Mortaza 0
O Pitcher c Bashar b Saqibul 22
D Borden c Bashar b Mortaza 2
D Hemp c Ahmed b Rasel 0
I Romaine lbw b Razzak 11
D Minors c Tamim b Razzak 23
L Cann b Saqibul 16
J Tucker c Tamim b Rafique 9
K Hurdle b Razzak 0
S Mukuddem not out 0
Extras (5lb, 2nb, 4w) 11
Total (for 9 wkts, 21 overs) 94
Fall: 2, 8, 11, 35, 52, 73, 86, 94, 94
Bowling: M Mortaza 4-0-8-2 (1nb, 2w), S Rasel 5-0-14-1 (1nb, 1w), A Razzak 4-0-20-3 (1w), M Rafique 4-0-18-1, S Hasan 3-0-12-2, A Ahmed 1-0-17-0
Bangladesh (revised target 96)
T Iqbal c Hurdle b Mukuddem 1
S Nafees c Tucker b Mukuddem 12
A Ahmed lbw b Mukuddem 7
S Hasan not out 26
M Ashraful not out 29
Extras (4b, 3nb, 14w) 21
Total (for 3 wkts, 17.3 overs) 96
Fall: 6, 30, 37
Bowling: K Hurdle 4-0-25-0 (3nb, 7w), S Mukuddem 5-1-19-3 (4w), J Tucker 3-0-14-0, D Leverock 3.3-0-19-0, D Borden 2-0-15-0 (3w)
Result: Bangladesh won by seven wickets
- REUTERS
