In a thrilling Super 8 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, West Indies’ top batting order put up a formidable performance against England, posting a total of 180/4. The match, held on Wednesday (local time), saw explosive batting displays and strategic gameplay from both sides.
The West Indies, after being put to bat first, began with an aggressive approach. Openers Brandon King and Johnson Charles set a robust foundation, taking full advantage of the powerplay. Their partnership had the hosts at 40/0 early in the fifth over. However, the momentum was briefly interrupted when King, attempting to drive a delivery from England pacer Sam Curran, suffered a groin injury and had to retire hurt.
Nicholas Pooran then joined Johnson Charles at the crease, and the duo maintained the scoring rate, bringing the total to 54 runs by the end of the sixth over. Pooran showcased his intent immediately, hitting Mark Wood for a six over the long leg in the eighth over. Despite England’s efforts to control the run rate, the West Indies reached 82 runs at the halfway mark without losing a wicket.
The steady partnership saw Charles adopting a patient approach while Pooran played more aggressively. However, the breakthrough came in the 11th over when Charles, attempting to accelerate, was dismissed. Captain Rovman Powell then took charge, delivering a spectacular performance with 36 runs off just 17 balls, including several boundaries, before being dismissed by Liam Livingstone.
The final five overs saw England clawing back into the game. Jofra Archer made a crucial breakthrough by removing Pooran for 36 off 32 balls. Andre Russell, known for his hard-hitting, couldn’t make a significant impact and fell soon after. The West Indies lost three quick wickets for just six runs, which slowed down their scoring momentum.
Nevertheless, Sherfane Rutherford played a vital role in the closing overs, contributing a quick-fire 28 off 15 balls. His cameo ensured the West Indies reached a competitive total of 180 runs. Despite England’s efforts to restrict the run flow towards the end, the hosts managed to post a challenging target.
The final scorecard for the West Indies read 180/4, with notable contributions from Johnson Charles (38), Rovman Powell (36), and Sherfane Rutherford (28*). Among the English bowlers, Moeen Ali stood out with economical figures of 1-15, while Jofra Archer and Liam Livingstone also chipped in with crucial wickets.
This high-scoring encounter set the stage for an exciting chase, with England needing to bring their best batting performance to match the West Indies’ total.
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