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Sarwan, Smith & Sixes in St. Lucia

Sunday, May 2 2004

Finally some sun and with it some cricket! The clouds parted in the West Indies to allow for an as yet unheard off uninterrupted game of cricket in the fifth One Day International between England and the West Indies in St. Lucia. The occasion produced some superb entertainment in return. A century from Marcus Trescothick set the pace for an exciting run-chase, ending ultimately in victory for West Indies behind some amazing late-innings strokeplay.

Winning the toss on this occasion was Brian Lara and he chose to give his bowlers some exercise after a week of inactivity. The English batting certainly wasted no time in getting back into rhythym, as seen by the 43-run opening partnership between Vaughan and Trescothick. Making a belated debut at the age of 29, left-arm seamer Ian Bradshaw crucially broke through, having Vaughan caught behind for a good-looking 25.

With the captain back in the shack, Trescothick set about the West Indian bowling attack with a distinct lack of mercy and thirst for runs. He dispatched boundaries almost at will especially during the last few overs of fielding restrictions, as the England run-rate raised above 7 runs per over. The runs came all around the ground - a six over midwicket off Bradshaw, then one over cover off young Rampaul being the starring shots.

The West Indies made their fightback at the other end though, dismissing Strauss (10) and Collingwood (4) and consequently slowing the run rate somewhat. In the middle overs, Flintoff (59) helped consolidate with Trescothick, who continued to look for his shots. The key bowler at this stage was unsurprisingly Chris Gayle, with his quickish offbreaks difficult to get away. Still, with a single off the same bowler, Trescothick raised his bat in celebration of his seventh ODI century, facing 96 balls in the process.

In a finely paced innings, Flintoff brought out the big shots approaching the slog overs, announcing his gear change with an effortless slog off Bravo over the midwicket ropes. Soon enough he too was acknowledging the crowd upon recording his fifty. Even sooner he perished to a spectacular reflex catch at longon. Having hit the ball powerfully and flat down toward the ropes, Mervyn Dillon did well enough just to stop the boundary, but luck would have it that he parried the ball up into the air and ultimately held it on the second bounce off his chest whilst lying flat on his back. Bravo celebrated his first wicket and then his second just two balls later, that of Ian Blackwell bowled for a golden duck.

In his apparent state of fatigue, Chanderpaul ran Trescothick out for a commendable 130 runs, 13 boundaries and his 2 sixes inclusive. At that point the previously expected target of 300 seemed a bit out of reach, more so as Rikki Clarke (6) was bowled attempting a reverse sweep. After another busy innings by Chris Read (24) and a six over midwicket, Bradshaw claimed him as his second wicket and the innings closed 4 balls later on 281/8.

Setting about the chase, the West Indies started comparatively slowly in the first few overs, before Gayle found his flow, hitting Gough for a four and a straight six off consecutive balls. After 10 overs, the score read 56/0 and the partnership advanced to 62 before Gayle (36) was brilliantly caught by Collingwood at gully in Anderson's first over. Ricardo Powell took his place at number three once more, and batted well with Chanderpaul in adding 40 runs for the second wicket. Anderson then struck again, this time bowling Powell for 29 just 5 balls after the same batsman hit him for six back overhead.

England pushed further into control as a top-edged cut from Chanderpaul saw him walking back for 40 - 115/3. With that dismissal, the crowd applauded as the new world-record holder strode to the crease for the first time since his historic feat. Over the next 88 balls, 76 runs came in a busy partnership between captain Lara and deputy Sarwan. Then, when the West Indies prepared for the slog overs with more than 7.50 runs per over needed, Harmison (10-1-74-1) silenced the crowd once more. The danger man, Lara (37), nicking the ball through to Read - 191/4 after 38 overs.

Next man in, the much criticized Dwayne Smith. The run rate required crept up to a demanding 9.22 at the start of the 42nd over and Sarwan on strike and on 40. Harmison in... clipped away through midwicket for a beautifully timed boundary. A further 3 runs from the next four balls and Smith got in on the action with pull shot to fine leg for another boundary. Now the crowd found their voice once more.

Sarwan reached fifty from 66 balls and Smith dispatched another boundary. At the start of the 44th over, the required rate was down to 8.71. SMACK! A six over midwicket and Sarwan on bended knee. Two balls later... WACK! Six more. In all the vice-captain took 17 off of what proved Blackwell's final over of the innings.

Feeling a bit downplayed, Smith faced up to second ball of the next over with 43 needed from 35. Anderson in... BANG! Swung away over fine leg. A couple balls later and the BANG went over longoff for another six. The bingo number of the over stood at 14 runs and the equation down to 30 runs from 30 balls by the end of it.

Still not satisfied with their effort, Sarwan and Smith picked up on Harmison at the other end. Exhibiting brutal power, Smith crashed two more sixes over midwicket, leaving Harmison and England bewildered, more so when Sarwan drove the ball to the cover fence to complete another 17-run over. In an amazing run, the West Indies had scored 70 runs from just 5 overs to swing the match dramatically in their favour. Alas, there would be a mild twist in the tail, as Smith played around a ball from Flintoff, bowled for 44 - 271 for 5.

Batting for the first time in his international career, Dwayne Bravo entered the scene with a very manageable 11 runs needed from 20 balls. Prepared to take the stylish route of completion, Bravo drove his second delivery straight down the ground for his first boundary and runs. Gough returned for the 48th over and Bravo ensured it would be the final over by lofting the 6th ball over longoff for a six and a thrilling and impressive 5-wicket win.

There were no real surprises in the post match ceremony, with Sarwan getting the Man of the Match commendation for his grace under pressure, whilst hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes in an unbeaten 73.

Match Summary:

England innings 281/8 (50 overs)
(ME Trescothick 130 [137], A Flintoff 59 [69])
(DDJ Bravo 2/57 [8], IDR Bradshaw 2/58 [10], CH Gayle 1/33 [9])

West Indies innings 284/5 (48 overs)
(RR Sarwan 73 not out [77], DR Smith 44 [28], S Chanderpaul 40 [56])
(JM Anderson 2/66 [10])

Result: West Indies won by 5 wickets
Series: 1-1
Man of the Match: RR Sarwan (WI)

Posted by Liam