Thursday, March 17, 2011

England v West Indies: Cricket World Cup 2011 live


OVER 14: West Indies 93/3 Sammy 28* Thomas 0*
Sammy unleashes again, but his unwieldy drive finds his partner's feet. Sammy isn't amused but does manage a small smile. And here's Mike Norrish to continue this Twenty20 madness in Chennai.
OVER 13: West Indies 91/3 Sammy 28*
A wicket maiden for Tredwell. The madness continues for England in his rollercoaster World Cup. And Devon Thomas now comes in up the order.
WicketBravo c Strauss b Tredwell 5 WEST INDIES 91/3
What a catch! Strauss stays low and a turning Tredwell delivery sees Bravo edge straight into the England skip's hands. Crucial.
OVER 12: West Indies 91/2 Sammy 28* Bravo 5*
Respite for five deliveries before Bravo hits through the line to mid-wicket for four. And Pollard is in next!
OVER 11: West Indies 85/2 Sammy 27* Bravo 0*
Huge St Lucian power from Sammy. There's a touch of Kevin Pietersen with one of those trademark clips with one leg dangling, too. 9/10 for effort as it motors over the ropes for SIX. A single brings relief for England with Darren Bravo happy to prod forward. The madness is summed up by Tredwell's figures: 3-0-21-2.
OVER 10: West Indies 78/2 Sammy 20* Bravo 0*
... meanwhile Sammy is undeterred by those two quick wickets as he continues his bid to end this game by the 15th over. This is end of the innings stuff, let alone the 10th! Nothing wrong with Bresnan's line, it's just that Sammy is hooking, swiping and slogging at everything! Stop the exclamation marks, damn it! 4,2,4,1,dot, dot.
WicketSmith st Prior b Tredwell 10 WEST INDIES 67/2
Tredwell darts a quicker one in, but it's fair to say Prior is one lucky chap. He initially drops it and it falls off his pads towards the stumps. All he had to do is help it onto the stumps with Smith out of his crease.
OVER 9: West Indies 67/1 Smith 10* Sammy 6*
First run in 10 balls brings SIX from Sammy. It looks every bit a pinch-hitting, lower order slog.. nevertheless, Sammy whips it high over mid-wicket off Tredwell.
OVER 8: West Indies 58/1 Smith 10* Sammy 0*
Tumbleweed reigns after the Gayle hammer show. It's a maiden as Swann impresses in both flight and turn. Fine over.
OVER 7: West Indies 58/1 Smith 10* Sammy 0*
Impressive stuff from Tredwell and such a key breakthrough from a player who last played for England during the Blitz. And what's this? Darren Sammy coming at No 3. Chennai or bust!
WicketGayle lbw Tredwell 43 WEST INDIES 58/1
Huge shout from Tredwell and out! Wait, there's a review but it only confirms pad before bat and hitman Gayle is on his way.
E-mailMatthew from St Lucia is loving it "... of course rooting for the West Indies. England is going to have to do something amazing to get past the West Indies."
OVER 6: West Indies 53/0 Smith 9* Gayle 39* 
What was that? A block? Yes, Gayle defends one on Swann's final delivery after the in-form Smith works three runs.
OVER 5: West Indies 50/0 Smith 6* Gayle 39*
Bresnan is off after two overs and Tremlett comes into the attack. Different bowler, same effect. Let's go with a different summary: 0,4,6,4,4,0. Four massive slog shots, including one incredible hammer blow for six over mid-on - his 169th six for his country. That's the 50 off 30 deliveries.
OVER 4: West Indies 36/0 Smith 6* Gayle 21*
Just the eight off the over from Swann's second, four of which are through leg byes as England's first-choice spinner finds the wrong line and Smith's pads.
OVER 3: West Indies 25/0 Smith 5* Gayle 20*
Didn't take long... Gayle winds himself up and unleashes four fours: a whip off the hips, a dance down the track over Bresnan's head, a glued-legs strike through the covers and a massive swipe which he edges for his fourth boundary. Eighteen from that one.
OVER 2: West Indies 7/0 Smith 5* Gayle 2*
Unsurprisingly Swann opens up with Bresnan, de rigeur in this tournament. Tentative from both Smith and Gayle with four coming from it, including a snorter from Swann as Smith just about gets his bat out of the way of a turning one.
OVER 1: West Indies 3/0 Smith 2* Gayle 1*
England are given a positive on Tim Bresnan's last delivery. Gayle dances down the track and tries to unleash a huge shot over... not sure, could have gone anywhere... but goes through to Prior. Fairly sedate over otherwise.
WEST INDIES NEED 244 TO WIN
Well, after all that, England have somehow managed a fairly decent target. Some very cheap dismissals as usual but Wright pulled it back at the end along with a useful unbeaten 20 from Bresnan at the death. Still 20 or 30 short? We'll see but it's all up to what mood Gayle is in given the West Indies' unpredictable nature with the bat. After seeing him throw his body around mid-wicket, Gayle could be in lethal mood against England's untested attack.
E-mailVictor and Trevor Jackson sum up the mood and content of a majority of today's emails: "I hope the management booked the team out of the Hotel this morning. Bring them home it is cringeworthy."
WicketWICKET! Tremlett c Thomas b Roach 3 ENGLAND ALL OUT 243
Roach slams one in and Tremlett can only offer the bat and a gentle catch to Thomas behind the sticks.
OVER 48: England 241/9 Bresnan 19* Tremlett 2*
Tremlett dabbles and prods out the over.
WicketSwann b Russell 8 ENG 238/9
Could see that one coming. The impressive Russell bowls full and straight into Swann's stumps. Chapatied.
E-mailDaniel Bingham issues a doctor's chit. "Strauss left England for the Ashes tour on 29 October and has had three days off since then. I wonder if he'll be too fussed if he gets home a bit early from this never-ending tournament, after 4 1/2 months of hotel food and CNN."
OVER 47: England 238/8 Bresnan 18* Swann 8*
Third man is up and Bresnan edges hard for four. Two balls later and Bresnan attempts a heave through covers but finds another streaky edge for four. Ten off the over. Pivotal!
OVER 46: England 228/8 Bresnan 10* Swann 7*
Want to know where England have been most consistent in this World Cup? We're into the batting powerplay, who have the second-worst run-rate in this tournament. Ahead of Zimbabwe, England have only mustered 6.40 per over, compared to New Zealand's 10.60. England findseven from the over though as Swann finishes with four through point.
OVER 45: England 221/8 Bresnan 8* Swann 2*
Roach continues good length. A no ball ensues and England are in Benny Hill mode as Swann and Bresnan stop-start mid-wicket on the free hit. The shy at the stumps misses. Four singles from the over. Solid stuff from Roach.
E-mail"Are England still out with a tie?" asks Richard Jones. "That would make Group B a lot more exciting. The ball is turning and Swann can grip it. We've picked two spinners for the first time. If our tail can wag we are still in with a chance of a tie." If that happens then England need South Africa to beat Bangladesh.
OVER 44: England 216/8 Bresnan 6*
... nevertheless, a pleasing dayboo from Bishoo as he finishes his 10 overs (10-0-34-3).
WicketWICKET! Wright c Russell b Bishoo 44
England are making it easy for West Indies. Wright hits with the spin on a flighted delivery and it loops straight into the deep, but also the safe hands of Russell. Another lame dismissal, especially after Bishoo had beenn carved for 10 in the previous over.
OVER 43: England 215/7 Wright 44* Bresnan 5*
Roach (6-0-18-1) back into the attack. Straight, quick, springy, athletic. Roach stops the run of boundaries as England garner three of that one. Sammy might have missed a trick by saving Sammy for now, rather than when England were wobbling.
OVER 42: England 212/7 Wright 43* Bresnan 5*
Successive fours. So Trott-like! Bishoo back on in his dayboo but Wright shows little compassion with two bludgeoned swipes: one over mid-wicket, one step back and heave past long-on. Wright's doubters are quiet for now.
OVER 41: England 196/7 Wright 34* Bresnan 4*
The 200 up. Very welcome after the flurry of wickets mid-order. And I've got my England mojo back: with eight overs left and Swann still to come, England can still set a target. Who knows with the West Indies' unpredictable batting.
OVER 40: England 196/7 Wright 30* Bresnan 0*
A terrible over from Sammy but it still brings a wicket. Story of the innings.
WicketWICKET! Tredwell run out 9 ENG 192/7
The cardinal sin. A terrible mix-up just as these two were getting set (41 from 42 deliveries). They both watch the ball to third man instead of running and Tredwell takes the hit. Call!
OVER 39: England 188/6 Wright 25* Tredwell 9*
This has the faint whiff of before the Lord Mayor's show with Pollard and Gayle yet to be unleashed under the lights. Pollard continues as England garner five from it.
OVER 38: England 183/6 Wright 22* Tredwell 7*
Wright looks on the money here and the crispness continues with a couple through the covers. Into the twenties, a sixty-dd would be most satisfactory from Wright.
OVER 37: England 177/6 Wright 18* Tredwell 5*
Pollard into his sixth over and... chapati! pow! Wright pummels one over cover for four with foot movement at a premium. Lovely, crisp strike and that would have made the Hove shingle.
OVER 36: England 171/6 Wright 12* Tredwell 4*
Ben pings down a wide, the chirpy Taylor misses and England find five welcome wides. Decent run-rate from England despite the end-of-innings (or tour) feel. Four an over from here will yield that 230 mark.
E-mailChris Shaw is adamant this one is not going to the wire. "Not sitting in Dubai, but in DENTON , Manchester but …WE ARE COMING HOME !! Another weak performance methinks."
OVER 35: England 163/6 Wright 12* Tredwell 3*
Ah, a boundary. Wright flays the bat and finds four over backward point. The ever-increasing Chennai crowd finally kick into gear. Might be close to full as the working day winds down. Plus England are in town, so a grandstand finish guaranteed.
A very tenuous sixth ball from Russell. The Jamaican steams in, stutters at the crease as if to pull out, but still manages to send down his delivery with Wright pulling away. Would have been interesting if that had castled Wright.
OVER 34: England 155/6 Wright 7* Tredwell 0*
The enormous-handed, 6ft 7in Benn continues some fine line and length. Tredwell finds a couple of leg byes, but this innings is now down to Wright. Play a few shots or eke out the ones and twos until the death?
OVER 33: England 152/6 Wright 6* Tredwell 0*
England have lost four for 30-odd and now there are three players to come who have traipsed round India with the burden of carrying drinks. Forget the 220-mark now.
WicketWICKET! Bopara b Russell 4 ENG 151/6
England's mid-innings inability continues as Russell picks up his third wicket. The Essex man inside edges onto his stumps and Russell does a now-trademark leap in celebration. The Ottis Gibson effect has definitely taken shape. England in a complete mess.
Plane home rating: ****½
OVER 32: England 149/5 Bopara 3 Wright 5 Four wides! THIS IS ON!! "England are in a bit of trouble," says Sir Boycs. "The only redeeming feature for England is that it is spinning." After the clatter of wickets, I think we can safely say the 220-mark is back on. Benn replaces Bishoo with some more tidy stuff and just the two singles from that one.
OVER 31England 143/5 Bopara 3 Wright 4 This is now last-afternoon-in-Cardiff stuff from this pair. Wright has 4 off 14. Bopara 3 off 13. They'll gonna send the fat physio out in a minute with a pair of gloves.
OVER 30England 140/5 Bopara 2 Wright 3 Steady from Bishoo. Into his eighth over now, and it's been an excellent spell. Big smile on his face. And why the heck not. Short lad, about knee-height on his fellow spinner Big Benn. Just two off that over.
OVER 29England 138/5 Bopara 2 Wright 1 Both men off the mark then. Small mercies, etc. Chance for Wright to tee off as he gets a free hit, but it's a decent yorker from Roach. Three off the over. Looking very much like home time, isn't it? Bishoo to continue.
OVER 28: England 135/5 Bopara 0 Wright 0 Wobble turns into slump. And England, obv, are bang up against it now. Let's hope Wright has been 'hitting them well in the nets'. Can't remember the last time he played? T20 World Cup?
WicketWICKET! Morgan c Thomas b Bishoo Oh no. Oh no, no, no. Morgan gone - caught behind reverse sweeping. Off the back of the chuffing bat as well. A nation turns its lonely eyes to....Luke Wright.
OVER 27: England 134/4 Morgan 7* Bopara 0. Wicket maiden then. Definitely reversing, according to Vaughany on TMS.
WicketWICKET! Bell b Roach 27 Roach is back, and his first ball pings back Bell's off peg. Thought Bell might prefer the pace on the ball. Didn't quite work out, did it. Nice cherry, angle in from wide of the crease but it's definitely kept a bit low. Bell was on his knees by the time his bail had hit the deck again/ Should Bell have been forward? Err, probably, yeah. Time for Rav.
E-mailJames Roberts 'There's little point in scoring quickly if our batsmen are going to get out in the 30's or mid 40's. We a stable partnership or we're on the next plan home. If Mick's analysis is anything to go by we're going to struggle to reach 230 here.'
OVER 26: England 134/3 Bell 27* Morgan 7*
Benn still in the attack and just the two from it as the England duo rotate the strike. Bell has 27 from 47 and the feeling is he needs to make some inroads.
OVER 25: England 132/3 Bell 26* Morgan 6*
Pollard continues. No alarms.
OVER 24: England 128/3 Bell 25* Morgan 4*
Bishoo finds a touch of turn which will wake Swann up in the Chennai heat. Liking the look of the Guyanan.
E-mailSushili Dhakal and Jack Busby emailed in just too late with their Trott musings. And there are a lot of you out there clearly worried about how many England can muster.
I think we are looking at a collapse and England getting 220 – 250. Maybe a Century in there somewhere," writes Gary Bosch.
"England all out for 200 now Trott gone," says a pessimistic Ian Fowlie.
OVER 23: England 121/3 Bell 23* Morgan 1*
So England's match-turner, Eoin Morgan, to the crease. A quick single before Bell guides one to mid-wicket where Gayle flings (yes, that's definitely the word I'll apply to the big man) himself downwards to avert a run.
OVER 22: England 121/3 Bell 22*
What more to say? Trott was playing brilliantly out there. Well set until...
WicketWICKET! Trott c Gayle b Bishoo 47
Gayle snares a second catch but what a dreadful dismissal. Slight turn from the dayboo man on his sixth delivery and Trott finds a leading edge which pops straight into Gayle's hands at mid-wicket. Gayle could have read the Hindustan Times, had a snooze, taken the Mumbai-Chennai Express and a cuppa at the Taj before claiming that. And not a bead of sweat on cricket's Mr Cool.
OVER 21: England 119/2 Trott 46* Bell 21*
Ah, was wondering where the fours had gone. After seven four-less overs, Bell ups the ante with a dainty wristy flick to fine leg.
E-mailMick Hill writes: "Are we looking at 150 for Trott and England 300 plus or a collapse. I think the former." Not sure judging by this campaign, Mick.
OVER 20: England 112/2 Trott 44* Bell 16*
Bishoo rips through another over leaving me behind the typing-rate. Bell breaks his run of singles with a paddled two.
OVER 19: England 108/2 Trott 43* Bell 13*
While Trott managed a clutch of fours early doors, Bell racks up his 13th single in a row with England's duo happy to work Pollard and Bishoo around the park. This doesn't look like a 220-230 pitch to me. The England dressing room surely mulling this over, too.
OVER 18: England 103/2 Trott 41* Bell 10*
Bishoo is taking the pace off nicely with some decent flight as Bell and Trott serve up for more singles. No boundaries for five overs now.
OVER 17: England 97/2 Trott 38* Bell 7*
Sammy rings the changes as Pollard comes into the attack. Two from the over and that's drinks after a solid start from the big-hitting Trinidadian.
E-mailGareth Butler in Dubai is up against it behind his desk. "I am sat in an office in Dubai full of Indians who seem to enjoy an English defeat more than a Tendulkar century. No more fuel for their fire please! "
E-mailWe have some movement from Down Under. Ocker Ogdenwrites ... "weird team selection mate. The poms to get 250 for 2 thanks to Trott that staffer batting-loving weirdo then collapse to less than 300 all out and Windies to wipe your fairy poms ----."
OVER 16: England 97/2 Trott 38* Bell 7*
Devendra Bishoo into the attack on his dayboo. Forgive me as I look up his profile. Three from the over.
OVER 15: England 94/2 Trott 37* Bell 5*
Trott reverse sweeps for four this time. Pretty much covered all bases so far, apart from clearing the ropes. A curt Trott told the media this week that he still played the big shorts – sometimes even one bounce fours! He's showing just that here though: 37 off 20 to date.
OVER 14: England 92/2 Trott 36* Bell 4*
Bell is happy to take the singles route as Trott continues down Chennai 66. Just the three off Russell's latest over 4-0-28-2. Runs aplenty but Ottis Gibson influence with the wickets?
OVER 13: England 85/2 Trott 30* Bell 3*
Benn back into the attack and England garner six singles. This pitch sure doesn't look like one that will cut up later on.
E-mail"England 235 all out. West Indies 236-9 off 49.5," is all Karen Williams can muster in her email. Karen, please can you email back with your Cheltenham picks for today after my heavy loss yesterday? Thanks.
OVER 12: England 79/2 Trott 27* Bell 0*
Russell hasn't been doing his homework. So far this is a glorified net for Trott as Russell drifts towards the pads and the Warwickshire man works it for four easy runs. But yet he has picked up two wickets despite some varying line. Latest: Trott 27 from 12 balls.
WicketWICKET! Strauss c Gayle b Russell 31
What a catch from Gayle. The lanky opener grasps a skier from Strauss with Gayle running 30-odd yards.
OVER 11: England 73/1 Strauss 30* Trott 22*
England have run-machine merchants at the crease. Strauss flicks to square leg for a couple and overtakes Tendulkar and Sehwag as the tournament's top run-scorer. Meanwhile, Trott moves on to 22 from eight balls – O'Brien might be semi-sitting up now – with two more fours! A front-foot drive and another one through the covers.
TwitterDerek Pringle: "Eng get start they wanted by winning toss but need to get 220."
OVER 10: England 60/1 Strauss 27* Trott 12*
Not quite Canada like from the first 10 overs but a decent start from England as Trott gets off the mark with two boundaries off the hips. Inexperience from Russell. Then, on his final delivery, Trott picks up histhird boundary with a classy drive. That's 12 off five balls – Kevin O'Brien should be quaking in his boots!
WicketWICKET! Prior b Russell 21 ENG 48/1
Eighties time! Russell steams in, Prior's middle stump goes flying and the Jamaican goes off on one helluva zigzagged celebration, arms flying and team-mates following.
OVER 9: England 48/0 Strauss 27* Prior 21*
Darren Sammy decides for a second change. The captain replaces Roach and ... Bang! Chapati! Strauss swivels and guides his second ball for a rhythmic SIX. Another eight from the over. Great start for England.
OVER 8: England 40/0 Strauss 20* Prior 20*
It's market time in Kingston out there in middle. A ridiculous amount of chatter from the West Indies as Benn is duly replaced by paceman Andre Russell. Strauss is in the groove himself as he continues his dancing down the wicket. He doesn't connect and Russell sends down a bouncer, following it up with a Ambrose-like stare from barely five feet away.
OVER 7: England 33/0 Strauss 13* Prior 20*
Classic Strauss as he shimmies two paces down and clips Roach for four. Roll up! Roll up!... Strauss looks on song. His confidences sets him up for an attempted heave over cover but Roach is wise to it and rolls the wrists in sending down a slower one. He finds the thick Chennai air.
OVER 6: England 27/0 Strauss 8* Prior 19*
A lot, and I mean a lot, of 'C'mon Benny boy' from Thomas behind the stumps. At least three after every delivery. Benn was once sent from the field for not following captain's orders, so probably best it comes from the 'keeper. It doesn't seem to be doing the trick though. The one-bad-ball-per-over continues as Prior clips an extremely poor full toss for four.
OVER 5: England 18/0 Strauss 7* Prior 11*
Strauss gets in on the act. He's handed four on a plate though as Roach bowls a juicy half-volley and Strauss dispatches.
OVER 4: England 14/0 Strauss 3* Prior 11*
I don't want to put the OBO curse on England's start but Prior's love of spin bodes well as Benn gives the Sussex man width. Nowhere else butfour through point.
OVER 3: England 7/0 Strauss 2* Prior 5*
Tentative start from England, doinn the right thing by seeing through the first few overs on this pitch. But Strauss miscues second up with a pull which just lands over midwicket's spraying hands. Nevertheless, he's off the mark on a wicket not too dissimilar in appearance to the Atacama Desert.
OVER 2: England 4/0 Strauss 0* Prior 4*
As expected, Benn opens with some spin and Prior is happy to mirror Strauss until driving for four. My word, quick outfield today as it races to the boundary.
OVER 1: England 0/0 Strauss 0* Prior 0*
Kemar Roach takes the new ball and Andrew Strauss racks up six dot balls, happy to let them go through to the 'keeper. That's not the only thing going through England's skipper this week with the Chennai chapatis doing their utmost. By the way, this is Strauss' 61st match in charge of England's one-day team – a record.
0859: So England will set the target. 230 plus sounds about right on this (probably turning) wicket. But the question is whether England can actually make head or tail of the batting power play (currently second worst ahead of Zimbabwe).
Let's see if England's openers have to contend with paceman Kemar Roach and tall spinner Sulieman Benn operating first up.
0853: teams are out, formalities are over. Gotta love the West Indies anthem and the sun-tingling sounds of David Rudder. Fun-tastic.
0850: Here are your full teams:
England: AJ Strauss*, MJ Prior†, IJL Trott, IR Bell, EJG Morgan, RS Bopara, LJ Wright, TT Bresnan, GP Swann, JC Tredwell, CT Tremlett
West Indies: CH Gayle, DS Smith, DM Bravo, RR Sarwan, KA Pollard, DC Thomas†, DJG Sammy*, AD Russell, SJ Benn, D Bishoo, KAJ Roach
08.35: Strauss has won the toss. England are batting. And Strauss has stuck it all on red – Anderson gone! Collingwood gone! Shahzad gone! In come Tremlett, Tredwell and Wright. If that's a your answer then it's a hell of a problem, but there you go. It's bold, at least.
0830: I was there at the Oval in 2004 when Browne and Bradsaw (yes those two) saw the Windies home in that thrilling Champions Trophy chase against England. My plane home rating today? ****
0820: West Indies lead 41-37 (NR: 4) on the head-to-head count. Interestingly, in the World Cups: England lead 4-1, while on the subcontinent, England lead 3-1.
0815: so here are the details just to be clear. If England win they must rely on South Africa to draw with or beat Bangladesh or India to beat West Indies if they are to qualify.
And what about the tie (after all this is England)? If that happens then they need South Africa to beat Bangladesh.
0805: have a gander at Derek Pringle's preview of today's encounter. Meanwhile, Simon Briggs profiles Kieron Pollard who, he reckons, makes Chris Gayle look like Trevor Bailey. Steve James, however, once described Pollard as the most overrated international cricketer currently playing. Broad church, this one.
Twitter"Taj Connemara in madras hardly changed since England schools trip in '78 except that Nige Felton isn't going naked up and down the lift." Derek Pringle remembers the good times ahead of today's game.

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