It has been a very difficult winter for England in the West Indies, but thanks to a match-winning innings from Andrew Strauss, they still have a chance of winning the One Day International series.
Having restricted the West Indies to 239-9 in their 50 overs, the tourists were set a revised total after heavy rain intervened. The ‘Duckworth – Lewis‘ method ruled that England would need 135 from 20 overs to level the series at 2-2.
Their chances were done no harm at all when Andrew Strauss got the innings off to a rapid start. The England captain hit four consecutive fours to help his team bring up 50 runs within the first six overs.
Ravi Bopara also made a valuable contribution until he was caught off the bowling of Kieron Pollard for 35. With the score already over 100 at this stage though, the game was virtually over.
Andrew Strauss and Matt Prior completed the victory in the 19th over when the former guided a Dwayne Bravo delivery for four. Andrew Strauss ended up unbeaten on 79 and said afterwards that it was a fantastic response from his side after the embarrassing defeat on Friday.
The Middlesex man said that performing as they did was the perfect way to ‘counter the criticism’ that has been directed at them a lot this winter. He then admitted how England’s One Day International team are very ‘Jekyll-and-Hyde’ and that you never quite know what to expect.
The victory for England means that the final game of the tour on Friday will decide who wins this limited over series. Should Andrew Strauss’ men emerge victorious, it would be a fantastic way to end a rather forgettable few months.
0 comments so far
There are no comments for this post yet. Why not be the first by filling out the form below.