CRICKET:SO ENGLAND can sit and wait and try to recover from yet another preposterously exciting contest that tossed and turned extravagantly. They can still proceed in this tournament after defeating West Indies by 18 runs.
At one point West Indies, needing 244 for victory, were 222 for six and on target, then lost four wickets for three runs in 20 balls.
Now Englandmust await the outcome of two Group B games. Tomorrow Bangladesh have to beat South Africa in Dhaka to threaten England’s quarter-final aspirations. Even if Bangladesh win, England can still hope India beat West Indies here on Sunday, which would put them through.
The second half of this match was a wonderful advert for 50-over cricket, with the game fluctuating after almost every ball as West Indies sought the runs that would send England back to Heathrow on the first available flight.
First there was Chris Gayle, smashing Tim Bresnan’s second over for 18 runs, then doing the same to Chris Tremlett’s first. In no time Gayle had 43 from 20 balls, whereupon England introduced their secret weapon.
James Tredwell last played in Hobart on January 21st but it was the Kent off-spinner who gave England their opening. The seamers had been butchered by Gayle so Tredwell joined Swann, who opened the bowling, in the seventh over and something odd happened: Gayle decided to play a forward defensive, he missed the ball and was given lbw by Bruce Oxenford.
Tredwell, the man of an extraordinary match, disposed of two more left-handers, Devon Smith and Darren Bravo, the latter brilliantly taken at slip by Strauss.
Sammy cracked 41 from 29 balls before he was bowled off the inside edge by Ravi Bopara.
Ramnaresh Sarwan and Kieron Pollard tried to restore the innings. But when Swann had Pollard lbw via a quicker ball England finally seemed to be in control, with West Indies 150 for six.
Then Andre Russell hit a fluent and unexpected 49 in a 72-run partnership with Sarwan. Russell appeared to be caught at long-on but Jonathan Trott fell backwards and just touched the boundary as he took the catch. Instead of a wicket Swann and England had to endure a six.
Suddenly it was 222 for six and England were desperate. But Tredwell trapped Russell, then Sarwan was taken at short-leg and Tremlett’s brilliant diving catch at mid-off ousted Kemar Roach.
By now there was panic in the West Indies camp, epitomised by Sulieman Benn seeking a second run to third man. There was Trott delivering an inch-perfect throw and England were victorious.
ENGLAND v WEST INDIES
in Chennai
England Innings
A Strauss c Gayle b Russell 31
M Prior b Russell 21
J Trott c Gayle b Bishoo 47
I Bell b Roach 27
E Morgan c Thomas b Bishoo 7
R Bopara b Russell 4
L Wright c Russell b Bishoo 44
J Tredwell run out 9
T Bresnan not out 20
G Swann b Russell 8
C Tremlett c Thomas b Roach 3
Extras (b1 lb4 w15 nb2) 22
–––––
Total (48.4 overs) 243
Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-79, 3-121, 4-134, 5-134, 6-151, 7-192, 8-216, 9-238.
Bowling: Roach 9.4-2-34-2, Benn 10-0-56-0, Russell 8-0-49-4, Sammy 3-0-28-0, Bishoo 10-0-34-3, Pollard 8-0-37-0.
West Indies Innings
D Smith st Prior b Tredwell 10
C Gayle lbw b Tredwell 43
D Sammy b Bopara 41
D Bravo c Strauss b Tredwell 5
D Thomas b Bopara 9
R Sarwan c Bell b Swann 31
K Pollard lbw b Swann 24
A Russell lbw b Tredwell 49
S Benn run out 2
K Roach c Tremlett b Swann 0
D Bishoo not out 0
Extras (lb8 w3) 11
–––––
Total (44.4 overs) 225
Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-67, 3-91, 4-113, 5-118, 6-150, 7-222, 8-223, 9-223.
Bowling: Bresnan 7-1-46-0, Swann 10-1-36-3, Tremlett 5-0-47-0, Tredwell 10-2-48-4, Bopara 8.4-2-22-2, L J Wright 4-0-18-0.
England bt West Indies by 18 runs.
Group A
PWLTNRNRRPt
South Africa 541001.61 8
India 531100.77 7
England 632100.07 7
West Indies 532001.65 6
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bangladesh 53200-0.76 6
Ireland 51400-0.88 2
Netherlands 50500-2.39 0
* (top four will qualify for the quarter-finals)
