WI crash to first defeat in T20 World Cup
West Indies’ winning streak in the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup is over.
After posting a competitive 180 for four, the Caribbean team had no answer to England’s rollicking run-chase as the defending champions cruised to victory by eight wickets in the second Group 2 match of the Super Eight stage on Wednesday night.
A packed ground at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia was left disappointed after England completed victory in 17.3 overs on the back of Phil Salt’s unbeaten 87 that sent West Indies crashing to their first defeat in five matches.
Batting first after they were sent in, West Indies, coming into the match with four successive wins in the Group Stage, seemed headed for a total of around 200 but were limited to 43 runs in the last five overs.
Five of West Indies’ top six batsmen crossed 25 but the hosts were unable to accelerate at the death.
Johnson Charles topscored with 38 off 34 balls while fellow opener Brandon King made 23 from 13 balls before he was forced to retire hurt with a side strain.
Nicholas Pooran weighed in with 36 off 32 balls but was kept in check during the 16th over from pacer Jofra Archer that cost only four runs. The Barbados-born Archer removed Pooran in that over to put a dent in West Indies’ quest to lift the tempo.
Pooran’s dismissal followed that of captain Rovman Powell, who entertained with some lusty power hitting in a knock of 36 off 17 balls.
Sherfane Rutherford smashed an unbeaten 28 from 15 balls at the end but his effort was not enough to stop a rampaging England who were set on the way with an opening stand of 67 in 7.4 overs between Salt and captain Jos Buttler.
Salt, who smacked five sixes and seven fours from 47 balls, benefited from an early chance to wicketkeeper Pooran.
The game was still in the balance at 84 for one after ten overs but England stepped on the gas as Salt and Jonny Bairstow provided the impetus in an unbroken third wicket partnership of 97 in 7.2 overs.
They were especially severe on fast medium Romario Shepherd, who was plundered for 30 runs in the 16th over.
Bairstow ended unbeaten on 48 off 26 balls and in the process went past 5 000 runs in T20 cricket. (HG)
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