Windies pummel the Poms

JASON Holder did the bulk of the damage as England’s latest batting collapse paved the way for West Indies’ nine-wicket win in the first Twenty20 international in Bridgetown on Saturday.

Towering paceman Holder twice struck with successive deliveries on his Kensington Oval home ground during a format-best return of four for seven as England were dismissed for just 103 following their Ashes woes.

West Indies then cruised to a target of 104 with 17 balls to spare, opener Brandon King finishing on 52 not out as the hosts went 1-0 up in this fivematch series.

It was a heartening result for the West Indies, fresh from a 2-1 one-day international series loss at home to Ireland, and now without veteran opener Chris Gayle after a T20 World Cup where they won one of their five matches.

“When it comes to Kensington Oval and Jason Holder, he steps it up,” said West Indies captain Kieron Pollard at the presentation ceremony. “He was phenomenal for us.

“We backed it up in the field and the guys really put on a show today.” West Indies faced plenty of criticism after the Ireland series but Pollard added: “Tough times don’t last, tough people do... We’re sticking together in the dressing room.”

England will have little time to ponder their defeat ahead of Sunday’s second match, with captain Eoin Morgan admitting: “We didn’t seem to adapt well enough. We’ll have to come back tomorrow with a fresh game plan because conditions are likely to be similar.

“Trying to get the mindset around risk and reward, we found a challenge today.”

For all that Holder (pictured) was aided by a pitch offering inconsistent bounce and that this was a different format, Saturday’s slump was all too reminiscent of the batting collapses that blighted England’s recent 4-0 Ashes series loss in Australia.