Superb innings under pressure, from Joe Root and Chris Woakes, see England home from an unexpectedly difficult position; they now hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series
So, that’s that then - England win the series, which will play to a finish in Barbados on Thursday. See youse then!
West Indies were unlucky that Shannon Gabriel got injured, but however you look at things, they got nowhere near enough runs. And when that happens, the fielding needs to spot-on, which it wasn’t, and an attack with no part-timers is required, which there also wasn’t.
Root nudges to point, there’s a misfield, and that’s that! What a brilliant partnership this has been, 102 runs in total, with Root ending on 90 and Woakes on 68.
48th over: England 225-6 (Root 89, Woakes 68) Four dots from Holder, then Woakes spots a slower ball and humps it over the top for six - that’s the hundred partnership, and the scores are level. But Holder isn’t letting this go, following Woakes as he moves to leg and burning one at his body! Lovely stuff! England require 1 off 12 balls.
47th over: England 219-6 (Root 89, Woakes 62) Single to Root, then Woakes tries to lift a long-hop over the top - it sits up and pleads for maltreatment 0 but leaning back, he toe-ends it, only doe Holder to put him down at mid-off. That was very naughty indeed. England then add three more, and it’s nearly time; if Root hits two sixes, is that a ton? England require 7 from 18 balls.
46th over: England 213-6 (Root 87, Woakes 58) Holder returns, and this match is now ambling to a finish; if Root can whack the runs required, he’ll have a century - and he’ll also have strike. England require 13 from 24 balls.
45th over: England 212-6 (Root 86, Woakes 58) Four singles from Brathwaite’s over; West Indies just didn’t have the bowling once the two frontline spinners were done. And even then, they missed some chances, Powell’s catch and the run out in particular. England require 14 from 30 balls.
44th over: England 208-6 (Root 84, Woakes 56) Carter fractionally overpitches, so Woakes panels him through extra cover - I don’t think Root has hit a boundary since he came in, nor has he needed to. On the one hand, they’ve batted brilliantly; on the other, with no scoreboard pressure, it’s been relatively easy for them to. England require 18 from 36 balls.
43rd over: England 202-6 (Root 83, Woakes 51) Kraigg Brathwaite continues, and Root nudges a single, then Woakes leans back and cuts the two which brings up an iron-stoned fifty. I say iron-stoned, but he only from my own pathetic perspective - he has looked amazingly calm throughout, the mortifyingly handsome, personable and talented so-and-so. He adds a single, Root does likewise, and this has been a lot of fun. England require 24 from 42 balls.
42nd over: England 197-6 (Root 81, Woakes 48) Holder opts to slow things down, introducing Carter, whom Woakes immediately runs down to third man. Root then nabs a single of his own - this has been one of the best low-key innings I’ve ever seen - and a further single each takes England into the 20s. This is pretty much done. England require 29 from 48 balls.
41st over: England 193-6 (Root 79, Woakes 46) Here comes the powerplay; England take three from the over, and could probably now wear another wicket. England require 33 from 54 balls.
40th over: England 189-6 (Root 77, Woakes 44) Single to Root, then Brathwaite tries a cutter, donating far too much width - Woakes doesn’t wait to be asked twice, thrashing it through point for four. This is superb behaviour from him - completely calm, rational batting, hitting that which needs to be hit, not getting out otherwise, and he’s not far off guiding his team home. But then he pulls to long-on, gets through the shot too quickly, and Powell, on for Gabriel, is well-placed to snaffle! But running around the fence, he can’t quite bring it in, letting it burst his hands and falling onto his fizog in the process! That might be West Indies’ last chance, as they run two; this partnership is now 66, of which Woakes has scored 44. What a player he now is; why, it’s almost as if the selectors know more about cricket than livebloggers! England require 37 from 60 balls.
39th over: England 180-6 (Root 75, Woakes 37) Now Kraigg Brathwaite is given a go, and Woakes has a look then lifts his third ball over midwicket for one. Root then knocks the final one to midwicket for a further single, and West Indies badly need a wicket. England require 46 from 66 balls.
38th over: England 178-6 (Root 74, Woakes 36) Carlos Brathwaite into the attack, and Root eases him to third man, before Woakes picks out the man at point when he tries a cut. But he doesn’t miss out next ball! Oh yes! A pitched-up delivery doesn’t have the pace to do anything but sit up to be clouted, so clouted it is, all the way over the fence! And then a slice for two makes that an excellent over for England, ten from it. England require 48 from 72 balls.
37th over: England 168-6 (Root 73, Woakes 27) Mohammed continues and England calmly take three - one to Root, two to Woakes. West Indies haven’t yet run out of time, but they’re not far. England require 58 from 78 balls.
36th over: England 165-6 (Root 72, Woakes 25) Holder charges in and Root pokes him to third man - Woakes isn’t necessarily up for a single, but runs one anyway, and it’s comfortable. But he’s nearly left rueing his agreeableness - now there’s a lesson for us all - when he under-edges a pull, his pads saving him from playing on. Next ball, he canes for four to midwicket, and then after they hustle a single and decide there’s another run on, Lewis is left with a shot - if he hits, Woakes is done for, but he misses! England require 61 from 84 balls.
35th over: England 158-6 (Root 71, Woakes 19) After drinks - and heaven knows, I need one - Root nurdles a single to leg, then Woakes adds one down the ground. And what’s this! Root tries a cut, the same shot that’s got out three of his mates, but misses by the width of a bumfluff beard. He then bunts a single into the off side, and experiences relief - if West Indies can get him, that will probably be it. England require 68 from 90 balls.
34th over: England 155-6 (Root 69, Woakes 18) Woakes pulls two to square leg off Holder’s second ball, and England are just easing free again, now that Bishoo and Nurse are gone. the fifth delivery sneaks past the outside edge, but then - or and then, depending on you read the situation - Woakes then wafts the next delivery just over mid-off. This is brilliantly tense stuff. England require 71 from 96 balls.
33rd over: England 151-6 (Root 69, Woakes 14) This is rapidly - ok, not rapidly, very slowly - becoming yet another innings of mature brilliance from Joe Root. He might make a player, and a captain, one day. He sensibly arranges another single, then Woakes steps down the track and launches a drive over mid-off for four. It’s not so much about the runs, that, as reasserting supremacy. Though it’s England who are nervous, West Indies would swap places in a second. England require 75 from 102 balls.
32nd over: England 145-6 (Root 68, Woakes 9) Root pushes down the track and hints at a run, so Holder makes to shy, then doesn’t bother when he stays put. This is wonderfully tight stuff now, though we’re some way from runs becoming an issue. But a pain in the midriff becomes one, when Root misses a pull and wears a stinger, bellowing a cussword in fury. He then pulls a single, the only run from the over, before Woakes narrowly avoids edging a short one and we learn than Gabriel has a sidestrain, so won’t be bowling again this evening. England require 81 from 108 balls.
31st over: England 144-6 (Root 67, Woakes 9) At Nurse’s end, Holder opts for the part-time spin of Jason Mohammed, perhaps hoping that England’s not having faced him much will help. And really, the tension 19 overs out from the close is remarkable - we should never be allowed to forget the fun of a low-scoring ODI. Three singles from the over; both batsmen daren’t get out, so we’re in this for the long haul.England require 82 from 114 balls.
3oth over: England 141-6 (Root 65, Woakes 8) So, who will it be? Holder, er, goes to, er, himself. Fair dos, at least he’ll know who to blame if it doesn’t work out: his front line batsmen. And he’s really putting his back into things, testing Root with a short one, tempting the fence before hands come inside it. One from the over. England require 85 from 120 balls.
30th over: England 141-6 (Root 65, Woakes 8) So, who will it be? Holder, er, goes to, er, himself. Fair dos, at least he’ll know who to blame if it doesn’t work out: his front line batsmen. And he’s really putting his back into things, testing Root with a short one, tempting the fence before hands come inside it. One from the over. England require 85 from 120 balls.
29th over: England 140-6 (Root 64, Woakes 8) And this is the last of Nurse, who England nudge away - though his fourth delivery bounces big on Woakes, causing minor consternation. Nurse finishes with 3-34, and a revitalised game; well done him, and and well done Jason Holder for bowling him through and supporting him with slips.England require 86 from 126 balls.
28th over: England 136-6 (Root 62, Woakes 7) Here comes your Bishoo to bowl the final over of a telling spell, and after a single to Root, Woakes cracks him square on the off side for the first boundary in absolutely ages. Bishoo ends wih 2-43 off his ten. England require 90 from 132 balls.
27th over: England 131-6 (Root 61, Woakes 3) This is Nurse’s penultimate over; Nurse Ratched, as far as England are concerned. Root shoves his first ball for one, then four dots follow before Woakes, who looks comfy, takes a single down the ground and Root does likewise to midwicket . England require 95 from 138 balls.
26th over: England 128-6 (Root 59, Woakes 2) All England need to do is not get out. Easy, right? A wide helps, then a single to Root and two to Woakes. England require 98 from 144 balls.
This is great bowling, and the dancing has begun! Moeen was still thinking about the one that left him in the previous over so when one drifted in on him, he did nothing - until it rammed middle and off, at which point he picked up his bat and returned hutchwards.
25th over: England 124-5 (Root 58, Ali 3) Moeen plays for turn, none comes, and there’s minor excitement as the ball goes past his edge. I wonder who’ll be used when these two are done - and if Holder will try and finish this, or hold back something for the death.
24th over: England 120-5 (Root 56, Ali 1) Moeen won’t have been expecting this, having been born in mere 1987. Can he persuade himself to knock the ball around, or will he thrash over the top and get himself gone?
“How about that ‘unthrillingness’ in the 20th over?” emails John Starbuck on behalf of the six others. “Apart from remarking on its awkward construction, your readers will be thinking ‘careful what you wish for’.”
We have ourselves a ballgame! Bishoo and Nurse have done exceptionally well to first apply the breaks, then the vice, and Buttler edges a cut, Hope hanging on at the second attempt.
24th over: England 117-4 (Root 54, Buttler 0) Root pushes forward and edges Bishoo! But it’s thick enough to run away for three.
23rd over: England 114-4 (Root 51, Buttler 0) Root is unmoved by the vaguely increased tension, working a single, then Nurse spins one away from Buttler. Keen to get off the mark, he then calls Root through for a single after nudging to midwicket and has to turn and fling himself back; one more step and he was toast.
22nd over: England 113-4 (Root 50, Buttler 0) So, have we ourselves a ballgame? England still have plenty of batting to come, but they also have a fair few runs left to get. They’re favourites, for sure, but won’t be wanting to lose any more wickets in the next bit.
Stokes leans back to force a cut away, can only edge, and Hope takes a smart catch behind the wicket.
22nd over: England 113-3 (Root 50, Stokes 1) Root gets one of the least memorable fifties you’ll ever see, Collingwodian in its stealthy, relentless accumulation. But then Stokes props forward to Bishoo, misses, and takes it on the pads. The ball was going down, but that’s a warning.
21st over: England 112-3 (Root 49, Stokes 1) Surely West Indies now bring on Brathwaite to try and get Stokes ego before. But, in the meantime, he’s off the mark second ball, then Root adds a two and a one.
Pitching in-line, umpire’s call on the stumps - the ball was dislodging the off-bail. Well bowled, Ashley Nurse.
This one goes on with the arm, Morgan waits for the spin that didn’t come, plays down the wrong line, and REVIEWS! Looks out to me...
20th over: England 108-2 (Root 46, Morgan 7) West Indies have staunched the flow of boundaries, at least; after a wide, Morgan bunts a single and Root takes three to point. Then another single, and, well, this is thrilling only in its entire unthrillingness.
19th over: England 102-2 (Root 40, Morgan 4) There just isn’t very much West Indies can do about any of this. Even quiet overs are fine, and in the middle are two men with the skill and temperament to guide England through as many of them as necessary. Perhaps it might be worth bringing some pace back to get at Morgan before he’s in, because there’s another over exceeding the run rate, currently standing at 3.95.
18th over: England 98-2 (Root 40, Morgan 4) Bishoo twirls through, Root sweeping a brace then a guiding a single off the final two deliveries of the over.
17th over: England 92-2 (Root 32, Morgan 0) Root and Morgan knock Nurse around. Drinks.
“90s dance produced a lot of quality,” tweets Michael Avery, “like Livin Joy’s ‘Dreamer’.”
16th over: England 92-2 (Root 32, Morgan 0) Root and Morgan knock Bishoo around - I might just store that line on my clipboard.
15th over: England 87-2 (Root 32, Morgan 0) So out comes the in-form Eoin Morgan; what a sentence that is to type.
As I was saying, Roy can’t help but swipe at one outside off - it’s a decent ball, daring him to take it on through the wind and to the long boundary - and that’s a straightforward catch at wide long-on.
15th over: England 87-1 (Roy 52, Root 33) Nurse is bowling reasonably enough, but isn’t looking likely to break through - instead, a tempered pull earns Roy two and his fifty.
14th over: England 83-1 (Roy 49, Root 32) Bishoo opens his third over with a wide, and then, after a dot, Roy reminds him what’s what, carting a shot one to the midwicket fence. And this is the problem, I guess - you create pressure and take wickets by bowling a succession of good balls. Put that insight in your pipe and smoke it.
13th over: England 73-1 (Roy 42, Root 30) This is good from West Indies just as England were threatening to pull away. Bowling very straight, Nurse limits the batsmen to four singles - still more than the run rate.
12th over: England 73-1 (Roy 42, Root 30) Bishoo is somewhat grooved now, Root’s sweep for one the only run off the over. In a way I’m surprised - England won’t want to let him settle - but on the other, little point getting all excited chasing such a low total.
11th over: England 72-1 (Roy 42, Root 29) Nurse into the attack for some more powerplay behaviour and this is the first tight over in sometime, just three from it.
10th over: England 69-1 (Roy 41, Root 27) Later than I expected, Holden turns to Bishoo, and Roy has a look, for one ball, before sweeping him left-handed, from outside off, to the fence at third man. Er, ok then! Perfectly normal behaviours!
Elsewhere, it seems that BBC 6 Music are following the 90s riff.
Wouldn't be a #DNB6Music playlist without @therealLTJbukem and 'Horizons', before that you heard 'The Bass II Dark' by Asylum
9th over: England 63-1 (Roy 35, Root 27) Root takes a single, then Roy chucks everything at a pull, minding at the past second that there’s a breeze going on and taking his bottom hand off the bat. Smart gear, that, and it saves him, the ball dropping short of the fielder as they run one, and then Brathwaite drops short so Root glances him to the fence. And four more arrive next ball, Root leaping onto tippy-toes to square-drive to the point fence, two more follow, and England are rinsing: 12 off this over, 13 off the previous one.
8th over: England 51-1 (Roy 34, Root 16) Holder continues and Root nabs three more to midwicket, then a single apiece brings Roy back onto strike. Ah. So he waits for one that’s marginally wide of off and chleanses it to the midwicket fence, then twists the next ball to square leg, raising the 50 partnership - it’s come off 31 balls.
“In other news, Chris Jordan is about to become a PSL champion,” emails Chris Drew. “Another for the CL team?”
7th over: England 38-1 (Roy 25, Root 12) Brathwaite, CRinto the attack Root turns two away towards midwicket, then charges and swipes three more - it should carry over the fence but holds up in the wind instead. Roy then turns down a single Root is certain exists, but it makes little difference - after that early wicket and scare, England look to have this squantied right down.
6th over: England 31-1 (Roy 24, Root 6) The standard of 90s pop-dance tunes really was outstanding: Haddaway, Culture Beat, Shabba (sorry, for avoidance of doubt, that was me interjecting, not listing an R&B act in a pop-dance list). Anyway, back out in the middle it’s techno techno techno techno as Roy powerstrokes a straight six. The control there was startling.
5th over: England 24-1 (Roy 18, Root 5) England are taking things gently, at least until Roy clumps Gabriel over fine mid-on. Is it just me, or does he have the game for Tests? And here he is, oh yes! Four more, whammed over cover.
To carry on Rob’s 90s revival, here’s the finest album track of the period, period. Even if later album releases ruined things by removing the rap.
4th over: England 14-1 (Roy 10, Root 4) Roy runs a single down to third man, and then Root gets himself going - must be a while since he’s faced seven straight dots - thanks to a wide, short one, slashed through backward point.
3rd over: England 9-1 (Roy 9, Root 0) Roy’s hit on the pad off a full one, but it was going well down. Well, that’s how it looked to me, the reality being somewhat closer. Either way, Roy is down the ground next ball, gliding a beautiful four. “Ah, pleasant! Sheer pleasantry, just to look at that,” says commentary. And three more follow, though these are dicily obtained, narrowly avoiding dive de Brathwaite. He has nearly pulled off two stunners, in the process pulling off zero stunners. Ah.
2nd over: England 2-1 (Roy 2, Root 0) The certainty of the fielders was persuasive, I must say. But what can you do.
Well, this is an odd one. In the absence of Snicko, Ultra Edge and Hot Spot, it’s simply a case of umpire’s judgement, or, more accurately, proof. And there’s not enough - though I’d not be surprised if the third umpire thought it was out.
2nd over: England 1-1 (Roy 1, Root 0) Roy absolutely marmalises a wide one from Holder, and Brathwaite, at mid-on, dives like a goalkeeper, leading with his top hand, but can’t quite hang on. Still, that was pretty incredible. And what’s this! Holder spirits one through Roy, there’s a huge appeal, the umpire says not, and immediately comes the call to review, led by Hope behind the stumps. The bat is miles from the pad, so any noise is likely to be incriminating.
“What are the thoughts around Finn’s performances out there, Daniel?” asks Bill Hargreaves. “For me he had the potential to be a stalwart next to Anderson and Broad had his management or development taken a different direction, possibly?”
1st over: England 1-1 (Roy 1, Root 0) That might be the series for Billings, with Hales likely to come back in for the next match. Truth is, he’s probably more suited to the middle order at the moment, it’s just his bad luck that the same is so of various other monsters. Anyway, Root, who was castled by Gabriel on Friday, edges going hard, and is relieved to see it bounce in front of slip - quite how it didn’t carry, I really do not know. Great over.
Well well well! After Roy takes a single from the first ball, a lovely delivery, full and on middle, is edged to Nurse a second slip, he parries it across to first, and that’s gone!
The players are preparing themselves ... can Shannon Gabriel get the early wickets Windies need?
“What’s with all the upbeat talk of England winning?” emails Chris Drew.
“We’re doing a 90s throwback day remember! We know how to lose from anywhere.”
Exactly - and that all begins with cheap talk.
“It is, like the rest of his appearance, stolen from Tamsin Greig,” says Dan Lucas of Finnsfringe, also a town in the Rhineland.
Meanwhile.
Wasim Akram as tv camera shows overhead view of Lahore "look at the amazing, eternal & beautiful city of Lahore" #PslFinalLahorepic.twitter.com/dzSg6O9mdk
“In an effort to tempt fate away from soling the notion that there are any certainties in life/sport,” emails Ian Copestake, “West Indies’ total is only 70 short if their bowlers up their game and/or England fail to bat like chumps.”
I know, I know, but I’m not sure either side has a Windies win in them. As for certainties, general boredom and misery is one, I suppose.
It’s been bothering me all day, but I am finally able to make an announcement: Steven Finn’s fringe is stolen from George McFly.
To ponder: are England seriously going to negotiate and at home Champions Trophy without Stuart Broad?
It’s very very hard to see how England don’t win from here. Their batting is so strong these days that someone always turns up, and chasing such a low total, that’s pretty much all it’ll take.
Meanwhile...
Darren Sammy's reaction after hitting a huge six. #HBLPSLFINAL#QaddafiStadium#PZvQGpic.twitter.com/md385BolOm
Bumble reckons Windies are 70 under par - that’s a damning verdict indeed.
Plus, Plunkett for Woakes would barely touch the overall hunkfactor of England’s attack, which has probably never been higher.
Liam Plunkett, then. He’s had some ill luck to find himself only playing limited overs gear - he had a fairly decent summer in 2014, then got injured at a bad time and hasn’t had a sniff since. I wonder if he might be more use on flat tracks than Woakes.
Ta Rob, and well bowled England, who’ve put themselves in position here. We’ve said that before!
That’s a really good effort from England, who need 226 to win the match and series. It should be a doddle. Daniel Harris will be here for the England run-chase. Bye!
Jos Buttler ends the innings with a superb run out, hitting the stumps direct with the non-striker Gabriel well short.
48th over: West Indies 221-9 (Bishoo 0, Gabriel 1) Plunkett now has figures of seven for 72 in this short series.
Plunkett gets his third wicket, zipping one through Nurse’s expansive drive to hit the stumps. This has been a pretty efficient bowling performance.
47th over: West Indies 220-8 (Nurse 9, Bishoo 0) The almost absent-minded nonchalance of Roy’s throw to Billings showed just how normal that type of one-two dismissal is nowadays. WHAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE?
Brathwaite smashes Rashid towards wide long-on, where Roy and Billings combine superbly to take the catch. Roy caught the ball inside the rope and then, as he was falling over the rope, threw it nonchalantly to Billings.
46th over: West Indies 218-7 (C Brathwaite 23, Nurse! 7) The new bowler Plunkett drifts onto the pad of Nurse, who flicks him around the corner and wide of short fine leg for four. It’s a scruffy over, with a couple of wides as well. West Indies are sneaking towards a workable score.
45th over: West Indies 207-7 (C Brathwaite 22, Nurse 0) Brathwaite, who is playing well now, crashes Rashid down the ground for four.
Holder slog-sweeps Rashid miles in the air, and when the ball eventually comes down Rashid takes a very well-judged catch.
44th over: West Indies 199-6 (Holder 13, C Brathwaite 14) Brathwaite gives us a reminder of his power, hustling Woakes through midwicket for four with little more than a short-arm jab. Eight from the over.
43rd over: West Indies 191-6 (Holder 12, C Brathwaite 8) A good over from Rashid costs just four singles. West Indies are really struggling now.
42nd over: West Indies 187-6 (Holder 10, C Brathwaite 6) With Brathwaite at the crease I’m surprised Stokes hasn’t asked to bowl, or at the very least threatened to kill Eoin Morgan with his bare hands if he doesn’t give him the ball.
For now Woakes continues to Holder and Brathwaite, two huge men who can hit the ball a long way, but at the moment can barely get it off the square. Woakes has terrific figures of 7-1-18-0.
41st over: West Indies 182-6 (Holder 7, C Brathwaite 5) Rashid is back and has a big appeal for LBW against Holder turned down. Morgan decides to review. The only issue is whether Holder actually connected with his attempted lap sweep. The umpire thought so; replays suggested otherwise. But Holder survives because the point of contact with the top of the stumps was umpire’s call. The England balcony are not impressed.
40th over: West Indies 176-6 (Holder 4, C Brathwaite 2) Woakes, not Stokes, returns to the attack to bowl at Carlos Brathwaite. His batting form has been surprisingly poor since he marmalised Stokes in the final of the World T20, and in that over he is rapped painfully on the glove by Woakes. West Indies probably need at least a run a ball from the last 10 overs to make this competitive.
39th over: West Indies 173-6 (Holder 3, C Brathwaite 0) That was the last ball of the over. Carlos Brathwaite is the new batsman.
Carter the stoppable six machine. He tried to blast Plunkett over mid-on, a bit of a premature stroke, and sliced it high to Rashid at mid-off. It was a lively innings of 39 from 36 balls but now West Indies are in the ill-smelling stuff.
38th over: West Indies 171-5 (Carter 39, Holder 2) Moeen bowls his last over, and Carter bids him farewell with a big six over long-on. Shot! Moeen ends with decent figures of 10-0-44-1.
37th over: West Indies 163-5 (Carter 32, Holder 1) “In another 90s throwback,” says Chris Drew, “we now have Carter the Unstoppable Six Machine at the crease!”
Plunkett strikes with the second ball of a new spell. It was a nothing delivery really, drifting onto leg stump, but Mohammed lifted it gently to Rashid at mid-on.
36th over: West Indies 158-4 (Mohammed 50, Carter 28) The lively Carter hustles Moeen for four more through midwicket. As on Friday, he has given the innings considerable impetus; he has 28 from 25 balls.
35th over: West Indies 149-4 (Mohammed 50, Carter 19) Ach, apologies; we’ve been having a few technical problems. West Indies have started to get a move on: seven runs from Finn’s over and now 13 from the returning Stokes’s. Six of those came from one thumping pull stroke by Mohammed that took him to his second half-century in three days. That’s a particularly good effort given that, before Friday, he has played two ODIs (across five-and-a-bit years) and scored six runs.
34th over: West Indies 136-4 (Mohammed 43, Carter 14)
33rd over: West Indies 130-4 (Mohammed 41, Carter 10) Carter gets his first boundary, rifling a half-volley from Finn back down the ground. Stokes, meanwhile, is back on the field; apparently he has just jarred a finger.
32nd over: West Indies 123-4 (Mohammed 41, Carter 3) Excellent stuff from Moeen, who keeps Carter to a single from the over and now has figures of 7-0-21-1.
31st over: West Indies 122-4 (Mohammed 41, Carter 2) Finn has troubled every batsman with the short ball today. That includes the new batsman Carter, who gets a leading edge that loops safely wide of backward point for a single. Finn’s performance in this series will probably get him into the Champions Trophy squad, though there is a lot competition for the seam-bowling places.
“If that’s your seam attack (and I’ve no problem with it), what’s you batting line-up?” says Chris Drew. “Any changes from here?” Probably just Hales for Billings, though I would definitely have Billings in the squad as he is such an impressive utility batsman. Hales’ experience and capacity to score 150 give him the edge though.
30th over: West Indies 120-4 (Mohammed 40, Carter 1) “Stokes has just dropped the IPL,” sniffs Ian Copestake.
Brathwaite’s work is done. He walks straight past a big-spinning delivery from Moeen and is stumped by a mile.
29th over: West Indies 117-3 (K Brathwaite 42, Mohammed 38) Finn replaces the relatively expensive Rashid (5-0-33-0) - and he has Brathwaite dropped off his fifth ball. It was a relatively simple chance for Stokes, running back from midwicket when Brathwaite mistimed a pull, but his positioning was poor and it burst through his hands. He injured himself in the process and is leaving the field. It looks like he has damaged the middle finger on his right hand. It’s almost surreal to see him put down a chance like that.
28th over: West Indies 113-3 (K Brathwaite 40, Mohammed 36) Mohammed is into his work now. After four dots from Moeen he slaughters him back over his head for another boundary.The rain seems to have cleared so we should be okay to go straight through the 50 over.s.
27th over: West Indies 109-3 (K Brathwaite 40, Mohammed 32) Mohammed gets down on one knee to swipe Rashid over midwicket for the first six of the innings. That was a cracking shot. It’s raining fairly heavily now, though play is continuing for now.
26th over: West Indies 100-3 (K Brathwaite 39, Mohammed 24) Mohammed scrunches Moeen to long off for a single to bring up the hundred. It’s been a good recovery from the West Indies, though Moeen is quietly doing an economical job: 4-0-13-0.
25th over: West Indies 98-3 (K Brathwaite 38, Mohammed 23) Brathwaite gives Rashid the charge, gets nowhere near the pitch and decided to mow him towards cow corner for a single. That’s one of five runs in the over - runs being the operative word in this partnership, as only eight of the 52 have come in boundaries.
24th over: West Indies 93-3 (K Brathwaite 35, Mohammed 21)
23rd over: West Indies 91-3 (K Brathwaite 34, Mohammed 20) Brathwaite heaves Rashid towards cow corner for a couple off the last ball of an over that brings five runs.
“I attended the Active Bradford Sports awards on Thursday, my primary school was nominated for an award, and was disappointed that Rashid (who was also up for an award) wasn’t there,” says Tom Van der Gucht. “At the time I had a similar attitude to Andrew Gale (when Rashid declined to play for Yorkshire at the end of the season) but hearing him in action now, I’m can almost understand why he was unable to make it.”
22nd over: West Indies 86-3 (K Brathwaite 31, Mohammed 18) It’s pretty gloomy in Antigua, and the groundstaff are getting ready just in case. Two from Moeen’s over. West Indies have rotated the strike a lot better in the last few overs; on this pitch you’d expect with the lowest dot-ball ratio to win the match.
21st over: West Indies 84-3 (K Brathwaite 29, Mohammed 17) Brathwaite pumps Rashid down the ground for four. It wasn’t a perfect stroke but he got enough on it to clear mid-on. Rashid’s reply is excellent, an even slower legspinner that growls past the edge.
20th over: West Indies 76-3 (K Brathwaite 24, Mohammed 16) Moeen Ali comes into the attack in place of Stokes. The bowling changes have been pretty mechanical so far but that’s fine; this pitch doesn’t really need funky captaincy. Seven from the over, all in ones and twos. This is good batting. Now, assuming everyone is fit, what would be your seam attack for the first game of the Champions Trophy? I’d probably go with Woakes, Willey, Wood and Stokes.
19th over: West Indies 69-3 (K Brathwaite 21, Mohammed 12) Adil Rashid is coming on to replace Liam Plunkett (4-1-11-0). His first over is on the malodorous side, with two wides in the first four balls and then a full toss. He improves towards the end, mind you, and there are six runs from the over.
18th over: West Indies 63-3 (K Brathwaite 19, Mohammed 10) Stokes is worked around for six in that over, four singles and a two. I have no idea what else to say.
17th over: West Indies 57-3 (K Brathwaite 15, Mohammed 8) A maiden from Plunkett, and that’s drinks.
“Oh!” says Chris Drew. “1990s link. That would be this.”
16th over: West Indies 57-3 (K Brathwaite 15, Mohammed 8) It’s fair to say England are on top, but this score isn’t a disaster for West Indies given the nature of the pitch. If they can beg, steal and borrow their way to 250, they will have a chance.
15th over: West Indies 52-3 (K Brathwaite 13, Mohammed 5) Mohammed opens the face to glide Plunkett through the vacant slip area for four. Actually there was a bit of edge in that and, as Sir Robert Key says on Sky, it’s unusual for Morgan not to have a slip in when the opposition are 47 for three.
14th over: West Indies 47-3 (K Brathwaite 13, Mohammed 0) “Afternoon Rob,” says Chris Drew. “Just over one month to the potentially promotion deciding clash: Northamptonshire v Glamorgan. Proper cricket is on its way back!”
Yes, but what’s that got to do with the 1990s?
Ben Stokes makes things happen, part 31204101863. It wasn’t a great delivery, short and wide, but it got the wicket. Hope threw his hands at the ball and bottom-edged to Jos Buttler. Any golden-armed all-rounder would have been proud of that wicket.
13th over: West Indies 45-2 (K Brathwaite 12, Hope 16) Plunkett hurries through another over, one from it. England have bowled very straight today.
12th over: West Indies 44-2 (K Brathwaite 11, Hope 16) It’s time for Ben Stokes, who didn’t bowl in the first ODI. His first over is adequate and brings four low-risk runs. It’s all a bit low-key at the moment.
11th over: West Indies 40-2 (K Brathwaite 10, Hope 13) Liam Plunkett replaces Steven Finn. Five from the over. No, no I wasn’t paying attention.
10th over: West Indies 35-2 (K Brathwaite 9, Hope 9) Chris Woakes has proved tens of thousands of people wrong by becoming an England regular. I wonder if he’s proved his own subconscious wrong as well. Either way he looks the part now, certainly in one-day cricket. The moment I type that, he drops short and is muscled through midwicket for four by Brathwaite. Commentator’s curse?!?!?!?!
9th over: West Indies 31-2 (K Brathwaite 5, Hope 9) Hope turns Finn just short of Despair at square leg. Later in the over, Finn drops short and is scorched through the off side for a fine boundary.
“I miss Neil Fairbrother, Rob,” weeps Guy Hornsby. “Almost as much as I miss Graeme Thorpe. Artists at forging an innings, but the former with so much unfulfilled international promise. He could’ve been a superstar. It’s great to see that skill hasn’t totally evaporated in these thick-batted, slow-bouncer times. Morgan & Billings grafted on Friday, and we’ll need that again today. All these 90s touchstones, it just makes me want to listen to Different Class. There’s a Stokes riff in there somewhere.”
8th over: West Indies 23-2 (K Brathwaite 5, Hope 1) Brathwaite slaps Woakes just wide of the jack-knifing Root at gully. It would have been a superhuman catch. The new batsman Hope then inside-edges just short of Buttler. This really isn’t an easy pitch. It’s two-paced - slow and slower - and not at all conducive to strokeplay.
“You know things are bad,” says David Horn, “when English cricket in the 90s is providing you with comfort.”
7th over: West Indies 21-2 (K Brathwaite 4, Hope 0) Every milestone in Steven Finn’s career is worth celebrating, given all he has been through and will probably continue to go through. He’s such a likeable, admirable bloke, with a spirit that is paradoxically fragile yet unbreakable. Only Darren Gough and Stuart Broad have got to 100 ODI wickets for England in fewer matches than Finn’s 67.
“Was intrigued to read of an ‘insinuation of swing’ earlier,” says Brian Withington “Any chance of a ‘semblance of seam’ too?”
Steven Finn gets his 100th ODI wicket. Powell tried to pull a short ball that was too wide for the stroke, and it lobbed straight up in the air for Finn to take a simple catch.
6th over: West Indies 21-1 (K Brathwaite 4, Powell 9) Chris Woakes has quietly become the leader of England’s seam attack in ODI cricket, and he has started superbly here. He is bowling very straight and just short of a length, making him hard to get away on this tacky pitch. His figures are 3-1-4-0.
5th over: West Indies 19-1 (K Brathwaite 3, Powell 8) After five dot balls, Powell punches Finn classically through mid-off for four. That stroke notwithstanding, this looks a difficult pitch to score on. Funny that, as it’s the same pitch that was awkward to score on the other day and now it’s even more tired. Identifying what is a decent score will be so important for the West Indies; even something as low as 240 might be enough, though they’ll probably want nearer 270.
4th over: West Indies 15-1 (K Brathwaite 3, Powell 4) Brathwaite is dropped by Morgan off Woakes at mid-on. It was a brilliant attempt. He dived high to his left, extended a telescopic left arm to reach the ball... but couldn’t hang on. A maiden from Woakes.
“Scrolling through on my phone and coming across that Neil Fairbrother video, I knew right away who was doing the OBO today!” says David Horn. “Your 90s nostalgia gives you away. But what a player he was. England’s first ODI specialist. The spiritual Godfather of Morgan and Buttler. I remember watching him once against Surrey and the way he moved his feet was quite incredible. He seemed perpetually on the move.”
3rd over: West Indies 15-1 (K Brathwaite 3, Powell 4) Powell is quickly off the mark, forcing Finn through point for four.
“Dear rob.smyth,” writes Odell. “We are looking for employees working remotely. My name is Odell, I am the personnel manager of a large International company. Most of the work you can do from home, that is, at a distance. Salary is $2700-$5800.”
Lewis has gone! He tried to turn Finn to leg and got a leading edge towards short cover, where Billings took a smart catch diving forward. It looked like the ball stopped in the wicket a bit, and that’s likely to be an issue all day on this used pitch.
2nd over: West Indies 11-0 (K Brathwaite 3, Lewis 8) Chris Woakes will open the defence from the Sir Andy Roberts End. There’s an insinuation of swing to the right-handed Brathwaite, no more than that, but his line is good and there are just two from the over.
1st over: West Indies 9-0 (K Brathwaite 1, Lewis 8) It used to be the bowlers who opened the attack. These days it’s the batsmen, and in this case Evin Lewis. He slams his first two balls, from Steven Finn, through the offside for four to get the West Indies off to a flyer.
The Joy of One, England v West Indies in ODIs
Neil Fairbrother’s magical innings at Lord’s in 1991, one of the more bittersweet hundreds scored by an England player in the 1990s.
In other news, there is a belting Test match going on in Bangalore. England need to improve a fair bit if they are to compete in the Ashes next winter.
Related: Renshaw and Marsh edge Australia ahead of India in Bangalore Test
West Indies K Brathwaite, Lewis, Powell, Hope (wk), Mohammed, Carter, Holder (c), C Brathwaite, Bishoo, Nurse, Gabriel.
England Roy, Billings, Root, Morgan (c), Buttler (wk), Stokes, Moeen, Woakes, Rashid, Plunkett, Finn.
They are unchanged, as are England. Next!
Good afternoon. The pitches in the West Indies bear approximately 0.00 per cent resemblance to those in England. In that sense, a series win here would have very little significance when England attempt to win this summer’s Champions Trophy. But confidence, individual and collective, is something you can take all round the globe. Maurice Mentum has the world’s most powerful passport.
In that sense a victory would be valuable, especially if it involves individual success for key players like Eoin Morgan and the type of nuanced batting performance that shows England have more than one way to skin a bowling attack. They will need another such performance today, as we are playing on the same wicket that was used for the first ODI. I say ‘we’; I’m not putting on my pads, I haven’t taken guard on middle stump, Dude.
Related: Fate hands Alex Hales return to England fold after troubled winter
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