Thaindian News

Chennai, March 17 (IANS) England kept their nerves to overcome an old-fashioned West Indies challenge for an 18-run victory here Thursday and remain in contention for a berth in the World Cup quarterfinals.

England, now with seven points in Group B, will have to extend their stay as their progress or otherwise hinge on the results of the two remaining Group - matches South Africa (8) vs Bangladesh (6) on Saturday and India (7) vs the West Indies (6) on Sunday.

In a must-win situation, England did well to recover from a middle-order collapse to score 243 all out while the West Indies could make only 225 at the end of a hit-or-miss style chase that had the Caribbean flavour of the old.

Spin won the day for England as the two off-spinners - James Tredwell (4 for 48) and Graeme Swann (3 for 36) did the bulk of the damage.

It was Tredwell who set the tone by claiming three wickets in his first spell of six overs during which he removed openers Devon Smith (10) and the dangerous Chris Gayle (43), and Darren Bravo (5).

Earlier, debutant leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (3 for 34) and fast bowler Andre Russell (4 for 49) did a fine job for the West Indies to check England, who were given a flying start by Andrew Strauss (31), Matt Prior (21) and Jonathan Trott (47).

In turn, the West Indies nearly pulled it off as Ramnaresh Sarwan (31) and Russell (49) added 72 runs for the seventh wicket. But the departure of Russell, leg-before to Tredwell, hastened their downfall.

Off-spinner Graeme Swan, who had shared the new ball with Tim Bresnan, struck twice in one over when bowling his fourth spell as England stumbled to victory.

The West Indies looked to be in an almighty hurry as Gayle set the tone with several huge hits as pacemen Bresnan (2 for 21) and Chris Tremlett (1 for 18) were taken to the cleaners. Only Swann escaped punishment.

But then, Gayle fell, leg-before to Tredwell, the decision upheld on a review. The Windies had rattled up 58 in less than seven overs at that point.

Tredwell struck twice more and England could breathe easy. But skipper Darren Sammy set the hearts racing with a thunderous 29-ball 41 to sustain the early gallop. However, he chanced his arms once too often and inside-edged a Ravi Bopara delivery.

Quite dramatically, the West Indies seemed to run out of steam as England took their bowling Power Play between overs 19 and 23, and conceded just 11 runs for one wicket.

Thereafter, although Keiron Pollard (24 off 27) tried typical strong-arm tactics, England showed character to hit back. Pollard, let off by Bopara when on 15, fell to the crafty seamer who trapped him in front, a decision that was upheld on review.

With the big-hitters gone, the West Indies hopes rested on the experienced Sarwan and all-rounder Russell. The duo batted sensibly with an occasional big hit marking their partnership that grew in stature and confidence.

However, a Greek tragedy awaited the pair as they perished when in sight of victory as England kept their cool to pull off a fine win.

Earlier, the England innings, much like their performance in the tournament, was a start-stop affair and never really profited on the early momentum that the openers Strauss and Prior, and subsequently Trott, had provided.

The middle overs were a disaster for England, who lost wickets at regular intervals with none of the batsmen able to collar the bowling.

Consequently, after the run-a-ball start, the innings lost its pace and urgency while the Windies bowlers found their bearings to have the England batsmen on a leash.

Even then, the England middle-order was guilty of poor shot selection and threw away the early advantages before some long-handle hitting by the tail-enders provided a modicum of respectability to their total.

Strauss and Prior fed on some loose deliveries as the Windies bowlers erred in line and length, and in fact, went on to concede 15 wides, seven of these by left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, who shared the new ball with Roach, but went wicketless.

However, once the partnership was broken when Prior was beaten for pace and bowled by Russell, who looked the most dangerous of the Windies bowlers.

Strauss followed, top-edging a pull to Gayle, who did well to accept a difficult catch and once Trott, who was looking good for a big score left, offering a tame catch Gayle off Bishoo, the West Indies gained the upper hand.

In a jiffy, England slid into the quicksand as Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara were dismissed cheaply before the tail-enders came up with a good effort to ensure their side a fighting total.

The late blitz carried England from 151 for six to the eventual 243, with Wright blasting 44 and Bresnan making 20 not out to add vital runs that proved decisive.