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England-West Indies lock horns to clinch World T20 for second time

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england-west-indies

Kolkata: This may not be the final sports buffs would have expected, but both the West Indies and England know they are on the doorstep of history to become the first team to win the World Twenty20 twice as they lock horns in the summit clash here on Sunday.

Very few would have given these two sides a chance when the tourney began, considering the subcontinental conditions. And also, neither of them were in champion form.

England were still recovering from their debacle in the 50-over World Cup last year while West Indies players had problems aplenty with their country’s cricket board, that led to some stars opting out.

The last time these two sides met was in the first match of Group 1 on March 16. Chasing a tough total of 182, Chris Gayle made it look ridiculously easy. The burly Jamaican remained unbeaten on 100 and took West Indies home with six wickets and 11 balls to spare.

However, England bounced back in some style by winning against South Africa in the next contest. With the help of Joe Root and other power hitters they chased down a target of 229.

The ‘Three Lions’ had a bit of a scare against minnows Afghanistan, but nevertheless they scraped past the finishing pole and then quite easily skipped past the Sri Lankan threat.

In the semis, it was opener Jason Roy who played an outstanding knock (44-ball, 78) chasing 153 to oust New Zealand from the competition.

On their way to the final, West Indies beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets and then went past South Africa by three wickets. But then they fell against Afghanistan.

However, the team showed great character to rally back from the disappointment and produced an all-round team effort against India in the semi-finals at the Wankhede on Thursday.

The Eden Gardens, however, will be a different strip altogether. The wickets here are known to have purchase for the bowlers and at this time of the year it turns too.

West Indies have come armed with all-rounders and spinners who are perfect for such conditions. And in the finals they are likely to go with the same outfit as they did against India.

However, if there is grass on the surface, pacer Jerome Taylor might get a look in.

The batting has been explosive to say the least. Lendl Simmons, who came into the side against India, has struck form and with players like Andrew Russell and Johnson Charles, the 2012 champions are a powerful batting unit.

Fighting fire with fire, England have their very own batting arsenal. Top order willowers Jason Roy and Alex Hales have been great, followed by consistency from the likes of Joe Root and Jos Buttler. It is also the time for their captain Eoin Morgan to come good.

“We’ve just got to do our business like we want to do — a style of cricket that is positive. Plan to do that on Sunday as well. We know how strong West Indies are as a side. We have to play well to beat them, make sure we look at our own game,” Root told reporters here ahead of the clash.

England have a young and inexperienced bowling line-up which will be put to the test here but then again they have been crafty about the trade and have yielded favourable results.

Head to head statistics show England have lost nine of their 13 T20 encounters against the West Indies. The Eden Gardens is also the stage where England had lost to Australia in the final of the 50-over World Cup in 1987 after their skipper Mike Gatting needlessly went for a famous reverse sweep that finished in the hands of the wicket-keeper.

Similarly, West Indies perished to Pakistan by five wickets from a favourable posiition in the invitational Nehru Cup final two years later.

Both sides, would be hoping to avoid any more reverse at the iconic venue.

Cricket lovers have to wait till Sunday night to see whether Morgan’s men create history in front of a packed stadium, or whether the West Indies cricketers end up dancing to their calypso.

Squads:

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Johnson Charles, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wicketkeeper), Andre Russell, Darren Sammy (captain), Carlos Brathwaite, Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Jerome Taylor.

England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (captain), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett.

(IANS)

World T20: Root hits 83 as England stun South Africa

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Joe Root

Mumbai: Star batsman Joe Root smashed a match-winning 83 as a spirited England side chased down South Africa’s massive total of 229 to win a nail-biting contest by two wickets in the Group 1 clash in the World Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Wankhede Stadium here on Friday.

Batting first, the Proteas posted a commendable 229/4 in 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries each from Hashim Amla, Jean-Paul Duminy and Quinton de Kock.

In reply, England opener Jason Roy struck a quickfire 43 off 16 which was followed by Root’s 83 off 44 that helped team chase down the total as they posted 230/8 in 19.4 overs.

Chasing a massive target of 230, openers Roy and Alex Hales (17 off 7) got England off to a flying start scoring 44 runs in just two overs.

The run feast ended as Sean Abbott got the much needed breakthrough by getting rid of Hales in the third over.

This didn’t stop Roy from playing his shots as the right-handed batsman took on the bowling striking five fours and three sixes before giving his wicket away in the fifth over leaving his team at 71/2.

All-rounder Ben Stokes (15) who was promoted up the batting order, didn’t trouble the opposition much as he along with skipper Eoin Morgan (12) returned back to the pavilion in space of four overs to have England in a bit of trouble at 111/4 in tenth over.

From there, on Root did not allow the required run-rate to climb high as he kept on finding boundaries at regular intervals to bring up his half-century in 29 balls and take team past 150-run mark.

Jos Buttler (21) who was giving good support to Root was also dismissed to end the duo’s 75-run partnership for fifth wicket.

Root held on playing sensibly to take team past 200-run mark before giving away his wicket in 19th over.

Moeen Ali (12 not out) and Adil Rashid (0 not out) to take team past victory line.

Kyle Abbott (3-41) and Kagiso Rabada (2-50) were the pick of the South African bowlers.

Earlier on put into bat, openers Amla (58 off 31) and De Kock (52 off 24) got the Proteas off to a rollicking start, scoring 83 runs in the powerplay.

Playing a flurry of shots all round the ground, the left-handed De Kock brought up his half-century in just 21 balls striking seven boundaries and three sixes.

But just when he was looking good to take the game away from the opposition, off-spinner Ali struck in the eighth over to send him packing. Amla-De Kock added 96 runs for the first wicket.

Incoming batsman A.B. de Villiers (16) failed to make a big impact this time around as he got went out cheaply to have the Proteas reduced to 114/2 in ninth over.

The right-handed Amla after being dropped by Reece Topley when he was batting at nine off the bowling off Ali, proved to be a bit costly for the Englishmen as he went on to score his fourth T20I fifty off just 25 balls. He struck seven boundaries and three sixes.

Amla and skipper Faf du Plessis (17) were then dismissed in space of four overs but ensured team went past the 150-run mark.

Next up, Duminy (54) and David Miller (28) helped team post a goo total.

Ali (2-34) was the pick of the England bowlers.

Brief scores: South Africa 229/4 in 20 overs (Hashim Amla 58, Jean-Paul Duminy 54 not out, Quinton de Kock 52; Moeen Ali 2-34) vs England 230/8 in 19.4 overs (Joe Root 83, Jason Roy 43; Kyle Abbott 3-41, Kagiso Rabada 2-50)

(IANS)

World T20: Gayle’s unbeaten ton blows away England

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chris-gayle

Mumbai: Swashbuckling West Indian batsman Chris Gayle blasted an unbeaten 100 in just 48 balls to steer his side to a comfortable six wicket victory against England in their Group 1 World Twenty20 cricket clash at the WankhedeStadium here on Wednesday.

Batting first, England posted 183/6 in 20 overs, thanks to Joe Root’s 48.

In reply, the hard-hitting batsman from Caribbean unleashed his batting skills as he struck five boundaries and 11 massive sixes to take his team to victory as the team scored 183/4 in 18.1 overs.

Chasing a challenging target of 183, West Indies got off to a disappointing start losing opener Johnson Charles (0) off the second bowl off the innings.

But his opening partner, Gayle played sensibly without taking any undue risk.

Gayle was well supported in the other end by incoming batsman Marlon Samuels (37 off 27). The duo added crucial 55 runs partnership for the second wicket to take team’s score past 50-run mark.

But leg-spinner Adil Rashid broke the partnership in the seventh over dismissing Samuels.

Wickets in the other end did not stop Gayle from scoring as he took some calculated risks to bring up his half-century off just 27 balls.

Dinesh Ramdin (12) held on in the other end along with Gayle but a silly shot from the wicket-keeper batsman in the 12th over saw him head back to the pavilion, leaving West Indies at 103/3.

Gayle stayed calm, composed and took on the bowling to bring up his ton in just 47 balls. He was well assisted by Andre Russell (15 not out) as the duo ensured their side got past England’s total to register their first victory of the competition.

David Willey, Reece Topley, Rashid and Moeen Ali claimed one wicket each for England.

Earlier put into bat on a green-top wicket, openers Alex Hales (27) and Jason Roy (15) gave England a positive start scoring 36 off the first four overs.

But medium pacer Russell brought the first breakthrough in the third ball off the fifth over by dismissing Roy.

Incoming batsman Joe Root (48) along with opener Hales scored at a good pace from there on to bring up a 50-run partnership for the second wicket in just 34 balls and take the score past 80 in 10 overs.

But as Hales was looking good after striking four boundaries, off-spinner Sulieman Benn castled the right-handed batsman in the 12th over to reduce England to 92/2.

England received yet another blow as set batsman Root, looking good to bring up his half-century, fell short as he tried to go over the top and was eventually caught at mid-off by Jerome Taylor off the bowling off Russell.

England lost the momentum losing two wickets in quick succession reaching 114/3 in 14.2 overs.

A late assault by Jos Buttler (30 off 20), aided by skipper Eoin Morgan (27 not out off 14) and Ben Stokes (15 off 7) helped them reach a respectable total.

Andre Russell (2/36) and Dwayne Bravo (2-41) were the pick of bowlers for the West Indies.

Brief score: England 182/6 in 20 overs (Joe Root 48; Andre Russell 2-36, Dwayne Bravo 2-41) vs West Indies 183/4 in 18.1 overs (Chris Gayle 100 not out; David Willey 1-33, Reece Topley 1-21, Adil Rashid 1-20, Moeen Ali 1-38)

(IANS)

Pakistan win series 2-0 as spinners run riot

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Pakistan

by Dawn

Sharjah: Pakistan spinners took nine wickets as the hosts defeated England by 127 runs to take the three-Test series 2-0 in Sharjah on Thursday.

England started the day needing 238 runs for a series-levelling victory with eight wickets in hand. But Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar made early inroads, dismissing the top order within the first hour.

Captain Alastair Cook offered solid resistance, scoring 63 off 164 balls as Yasir picked up four while Babar and Shoaib Malik ended with three.

It was Malik, playing his last Test match, who gave Pakistan the prized wicket of Cook, stumped by wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed, to finish with seven wickets in the match.

Shah had Ben Stokes stumped in the next over for 12 to spark celebrations in the field as Pakistan players embraced each other.

The victory lifts Pakistan to an equal highest ever number two in the ICC (International Cricket Council) Test rankings, a spot which they previously attained only for a few days in August 2006.

Pakistan won the second Test by 178 runs in Dubai.

Alastair Cook’s team fought well throughout the three Tests and was unlucky not to win the first Test in Abu Dhabi, forced into a draw due to bad light with just 24 needed for victory.

England are now pushed to sixth from their pre-series third in the Test rankings.

England were in danger of losing the match before lunch but Adil Rashid (22) helped add 49 for the seventh wicket with Cook to delay Pakistan’s win.

Cook punched paceman Rahat Ali for a single to reach his 46th half-century in Tests.

When the final day began England were rocked right at the start, losing four wickets in the space of 31 balls after resuming at 46-2.

Shah trapped Joe Root in the second over with a delivery that kept low and caught the batsman in front of the stumps before he had added to his overnight score of six.

James Taylor survived nine deliveries to score two before Babar spun one across his bat for Younis Khan to take the edge in the slip. In the next over, Shah trapped Jonny Bairstow leg-before for nought.

It became 59-6 when Samit Patel was leg-before in Babar’s next over, leaving England in fear of being bowled out for their lowest total of 72 against Pakistan when they crumbled in Abu Dhabi in 2012.

But the Rashid-Cook stand got England past the 100-mark before Rahat bowled Rashid with 15 minutes to go before lunch.

England need 99 to win first Test

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Adil Rashid

Abu Dhabi: England need 99 runs in a possible 19 overs to win the first Test after Pakistan collapsed to 173 all out in their second innings in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

The Test was heading for a draw after England declared their first innings at 598-9, but they bowled with fire and employed aggressive field settings on a weary fifth and final day pitch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.

Spinners Adil Rashid (5-64) and Moeen Ali (2-28) did the damage while paceman James Anderson took 2-30.

(Agencies)

Test Cricket: Cook bats on as England closes on Pakistan total

by

Cook

Abu Dhabi: Alastair Cook continued to bat solidly to help England approach Pakistan’s massive total on the fourth day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

The England captain was unbeaten on 237 as England reached 468 for five at tea, just 55 runs behind

Pakistan’s first innings total of 523 for eight declared as the prospects of a result on a flat Sheikh Zayed Stadium diminished.

Ben Stokes was the other unbeaten batsman with 16.

Cook came to the crease in the last hour of the second day and has since batted with authority and grit, smashing 17 boundaries during his resolute 471-ball knock.

He added 141 runs for the fourth wicket with Joe Root who made a brilliant 85 after England resumed at 290-3.

Paceman Rahat Ali provided Pakistan the breakthrough after they went without wicket in the extended two-and-a-half hour session due to Friday prayers.

After lunch Root played a rash shot off a wide delivery and was caught by wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed. He hit seven boundaries during his 143-ball stay.

But it was Cook’s third double century that enlivened an otherwise dull day.

Cook flicked paceman Wahab Riaz to backward square-leg for two to complete his double century off 395 deliveries, the second of the match behind Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik’s 245.

Cook has so far hit 16 boundaries in a 407-ball stay.

Root also batted with authority, reaching his 14th Test half-century with a reverse sweep boundary off Malik.

Pakistan were once again sloppy in the field as they missed another chance to dismiss Cook when wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed failed to take an inside edge off Riaz when the England captain was on 173.

Fawad Alam had let off Cook on 147 off spinner Zulfiqar Babar on Thursday.

Root also survived a confident leg-before shout when fast bowler Imran Khan trapped him but Pakistan’s review once again went unsuccessful.

Riaz was the pick of the bowlers with 3-116.

Pakistan’s frontline spinner Babar also struggled to take a wicket, conceding 132 runs in his 58 overs.

Pakistan has played seven Test matches at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, winning four, including the last two by massive margins against Australia (356 runs) and New Zealand (248 runs) and drawing the other three. It won the only Test match here against England by 72 runs in 2012.

Test Cricket: Cook hits ton as England pursue mammoth total

by

Cook

Abu Dhabi: England captain Alastair Cook knocked a solid hundred to lead England’s fightback on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Cook continued to bat without much problem as he reached 116 to take his team to 197 for one at tea with Ian Bell on 31 as the pair thwart Pakistan’s pace-cum-spin attack on a Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.

England still trail Pakistan’s mammoth first innings total of 523 for eight by 326 runs.

Cook drove left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz for an exquisite cover drive for his tenth boundary to complete his 28th century in Tests, raising his bat in celebration.

When on 93 the England skipper also completed 1,000 runs in 11th Test this year, only the second batsman to reach 1,000 runs in 2015 behind team-mate Joe Root.

He has so far hit 11 boundaries during his 222-ball stay at the wicket.

Pakistan thought they had England skipper leg-before when he failed to connect a sweep off left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar but Australian umpire Paul Reiffel’s decision of not out was upheld on review.

Earlier, Cook and Moeen Ali resumed the day at 56-0, bringing up the century stand in the first hour of play as Pakistan attacked through pace at one end and spin from the other.

England’s last century stand came against New Zealand at Leeds earlier this year with Cook and now discarded Adam Lyth posting 177.

But at 116, left-hander Ali edged an outgoing delivery from paceman Imran Khan to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed who took a low catch to his left.

Bell survived some anxious moments at the crease with left-armer Zulfiqar Babar started to turn the ball on a pitch which did not assist England spinners on the first two days.

Babar was unlucky not to have Bell four overs before the interval when close-in fielder Shan Masood failed to hold on to an edge at silly point.

Bell, who survived some anxious moments before lunch, looked settled with three boundaries in his 104-ball knock.

(AFP)

England thrash Australia to regain the Ashes

by

Ben Stokes

Nottingham: England regained the Ashes by sealing an innings and 78-run victory over Australia on the third day of the fourth Test here on Saturday.

England needed only three wickets to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series and they took it without much trouble at Trent Bridge. Australia were bowled out for 253 runs in their second innings.

They claimed those three wickets within an hour of play on Saturday. Pacer Ben Stokes claimed a wicket on Saturday to end with figures of 6-36 in the second innings.

The win caps a remarkable reversal from the 0-5 whitewash suffered by England Down Under in 2013-14.

Stokes second over of the morning set England on their course for victory as he claimed the opening breakthrough, forcing Mitchell Starc to edge one to Ian Bell at second slip for a duck.

Fellow pacer Mark Wood got in on the act as he bowled Josh Hazlewood (0) as England sensed victory in double-quick time with barely an hour of the morning session having passed.

Adam Voges (51) did go to his half century but it was his partner Lyon whose wicket led to the regaining of the Ashes, as he played on off the bowling of Wood to spark scenes of wild celebration as England reached the crowning moment.

England took a giant step on their road to victory when Australia collapsed to just 60 all out in 111 balls on Thursday with right-arm Stuart Broad taking eight for 15.

Within moments of the loss, Australian captain Michael Clarke announced his retirement after the final Ashes Test at The Oval cricket ground, in London, this month.

He told Channel 9: “The time is right. I want to play the last Test at The Oval and give it one more crack. I’ll take so many memories away. I’m looking forward to sitting and cheering the boys on. It’s the right time.”

England have now won five of the last seven Ashes series and the last four at home.

(IANS)

Ashes 2015: Stuart Broad routs Australia for 60 in record time

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Stuart Broad

by BBC

England paceman Stuart Broad took 8-15 as Australia were bowled out in the quickest time ever in the first innings of a Test on a remarkable first day in the fourth Ashes match at Trent Bridge.

Broad equalled the fastest five-wicket haul, taking 5-6 in 19 balls, as the tourists were 60 all out in 111 balls.

Australia are just the fourth side in Test history to bat first and be fielding before lunch on the first day.

Broad, 29, also became the fifth English bowler to reach 300 wickets.

He also returned England’s third best Ashes bowling figures of all time – only beaten by Jim Laker’s 9-37 and 10-53  at Old Trafford in 1956.

And his five-wicket haul is the fastest taken from the start of a Test innings, beating the 25 balls required by South Africa’s Vernon Philander to claim five New Zealand wickets at Cape Town in January 2013.

Broad had Chris Rogers caught at first slip by Alastair Cook with just his second ball – claiming his 300th wicket and inflicting a first duck in 46 Test innings on the Australian opener in the process – before having Steve Smith caught at third slip by Joe Root from his sixth delivery.

He then had Shaun Marsh caught by Ian Bell at second slip in his second over and Adam Voges spectacularly caught by Ben Stokes at fifth slip in his third.

Michael Clarke became Broad’s fifth victim, slashing a ball to Cook at first slip from Broad’s 19th ball, thus equalling the number of deliveries needed by Australia’s Ernie Toshack to claim five wickets against India at Brisbane in 1947 – though Toshack did not open the bowling.

Mark Wood and Steven Finn also took a wicket apiece as Australia were reduced to 38-7 in 11 overs.

Broad then claimed the last three wickets as Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson both edged to Root at slip before Nathan Lyon was the last man out, caught by Stokes at sixth slip, 20 minutes before lunch.

Nottinghamshire seamer Broad is playing in his 83rd Test, having made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2007.

He joins Fred Trueman, Bob Willis, Sir Ian Botham and his team-mate James Anderson in England’s 300 club – with his eighth wicket drawing him level with Trueman on 307.

Anderson, who reached the 300 mark in May 2013, is England’s leading wicket-taker with 413 – although he is missing the fourth Test with a side injury.

Broad has played in three winning Ashes series – in 2009, 2010-11 and 2013 – and scored a Test century against Pakistan at Lord’s in August 2010.

Ashes 2015: Finn claims five as England sniff victory

by

Steven Finn

Birmignham: Comeback man Steven Finn missed a hat-trick but pulverised Australia with a five wicket haul as England were sniffing victory on an action-filled day two of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston here on Thursday.

A win will enable England to regain their lead in the five-match series.

Australia managed to score 168 for 7 in their second innings at the draw of stumps, only 23 runs ahead of England with three full days of play remaining on a fast and bouncy track, where pacers have had a ball so far.

Peter Nevill (37) and Mitchell Starc (7) were in the middle.

Earlier in the day, replying to Australia’s first innings total of 135, England put up 281 on the scoreboard, courtesy half centuries from Joe Root (63) and Moeen Ali (59) and a 87-run eighth wicket stand between Ali and Stuart Broad (31).

After the England essay ended in the 12th over into the post lunch session, Australia needed 145 to stave off an innings defeat.

But they seemed close to ignominy, as 26 year old Middlesex pacer Finn (5 for 45) ripped through the heart of their batting in a deadly opening spell (9-1-39-4), even as opener David Warner (77) fought with grit.

The Australian batting tottered from the start, with opener and first innings resistance man Chris Rogers (6) getting struck on the front foot before the wicket by playing the wrong line against Broad.

Six feet seven inches tall Finn, returning to Test cricket after two years, then took centre-stage by plucking out Steven Smith (8) in his second over, as the Australian willower top edged a short of the length delivery.

Playing his 24th career Test, Finn did more damage in his fourth over, getting rid of skipper Michael Clarke (3), who fell to a fantastic low diving catch taken by Adam Lyth at fourth slip.

The England bowler proceeded to devour Adam Voges (0) off the next ball, to be on a hat-trick but Mitchell Marsh denied him the honours.

However, Marsh (6) did not last long, as Finn rattled the right hander’s stumps. Australia seemed in big trouble at 92 for 5.

James Anderson, who had enviable figures of 6 for 47 in the first innings, then ended Warner’s defiance, but Peter Nevill (37) and Mitchell Johnson (14) added an invaluable 42 runs for the seventh wicket in an exhibition of dour resistance that ensured England would have to bat again.

Johnson had earlier in the day took his 300th Test wicket.

Coming back into action, Finn saw the back of Johnson to complete to claim his seventh wicket of the match and 97th of his Test career.

The arch-rivals are locked 1-1 in the five-match series.

(IANS)

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