Pallekele: In the second Super Eight contest, West Indies defeated England comprehensively by 15 runs in what was yet another high scoring game in Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
West Indies batting once again did the job putting up a good total, England in their chase faltered early in their innings and could not cross the line despite a brilliant knock by Eoin Morgan.
Earlier in the day, West Indies captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch that was expected to slow down as the game progresses. Chris Gayle and Johnson Charles opened the innings for them and played their role brilliantly. Gayle lashed on the opportunities provided to him and Charles rotated the strike and ensured that Gayle gets maximum strike.
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Brief Score:
West Indies: 179/5 (Charles 84, Gayle 58, Broad 2-26)
England: 164/4 (Morgan 71*, Hales 68, Rampaul 2-37)
Match Stats:
West Indies Powerplay: 47 runs, 0 wicket
England Powerplay: 29 runs, 2 wickets
Man of the match: Johnson Charles
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Gayle was the aggressor in the partnership, reaching yet another fifty in the competition, in his innings of 58 he hit six fours and four massive sixes. Graeme Swann provided England the breakthrough when he deceived Gayle in the air.
Johnson Charles who was playing second fiddle till now got on to the act after Gayle’s wicket and quickly took his strike rate in the 140s. He used his feet brilliantly against the English spinners and lofted the ball with ease. He at the other end kept losing his partners as both Samuels and Pollard failed to make any impression. Charles was nearing a hundred but a mis hit on a full toss saw a great innings from the young man coming to an end. West Indies finished their innings at 179.
England needing nine runs per over, would have hoped for a good start but Ravi Rampaul ensured that they don’t get that. He got the wickets of Kieswetter and Luke Wright in successive balls and that hurt England. After losing two quick wickets, Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow played very slowly and had no answers to the spin of Samuel Badree. Bairstow in particular struggled to rotate the strike and that reflected in the asking rate. England after at the halfway stage could only manage 55 runs.
After the fall of Bairstow’s wicket Morgan came in to bat and that helped the defending champions. Morgan was quick on his feet and was very innovative with his strokeplay. Together, he and Hales produced some good overtaking England close to the target. Both the players got to their fifty, with Morgan reaching their in no time with a strike rate of over 200. They put up a partnership of 107 in only 58 balls.
England in the last three overs needed 46 runs, Morgan hit some lusty blows but the task was almost impossible as England fell short by 15 runs.
By Indian Sports News Network
