Marvellous Gayle takes Windies close but England survive
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Veteran Chris Gayle struck a scintillating 25th One-Day International hundred and passed 10 000 career runs but the task of completing their highest-ever successful run chase proved too much for West Indies and they slipped to a 29-run defeat to England in an entertaining fourth ODI here yesterday.
Faced with a daunting target of 419 at the Grenada National Stadium after Jos Buttler and captain Eoin Morgan had pummeled high quality hundreds, West Indies appeared poised to spring a massive surprise when the left-handed Gayle smashed a breathtaking 162 off 97 deliveries.
But despite Darren Bravo’s 61 from 59 balls and Carlos Brathwaite’s maiden ODI half-century in gathering 50 from 36 deliveries towards the end, the Windies suffered a late collapse to be all out for 389 off 48 overs – their highest ever ODI total.
The hosts lost wickets in clusters as speedster Mark Wood, with four for 60, triggered a middle order collapse before leg-spinner Adil Rashid polished off the tail with with five for 85, in an anticlimactic end to the high-scoring affair.
They were seemingly down and out at 301 for six in the 36th over before Brathwaite and Ashley Nurse (43) dragged them back into the contest with a sensible 88run, seventh wicket partnership.
But with the hosts requiring 32 runs from the last three overs and the balance tilting in the Windies favour, Rashid snatched four wickets in the 48th over to dash the hopes of a the capacity crowd.
Nurse top-edged a heave and was caught by Liam Plunkett coming around from short fine leg and off the very next ball, Brathwaite sliced to Morgan at cover, effectively ending the home side’s bid.
Devendra Bishoo and Oshane Thomas then fell without scoring to the final two deliveries of the over as West Indies lost their last four wickets without adding a single run.
With the result, England took a crucial 2-1 lead in the five-match series heading into Saturday’s finale in St Lucia.
England had earlier put on a electric exhibition of power-hitting with an ODI record 24 sixes as they raced to 418 for six of their 50 overs, their third-highest ODI total.
Buttler top-scored with 150 to claim Man-of-theMatch honours while Morgan chipped in with 103, the pair posting 204 in a magnificent fourth wicket partnership which floored the Windies. Printed and published daily by Guyana Publications Inc 46/47 Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Tel 226-7206, 226-2333, 227-4080, 226-2515. Fax: 225-4637