Chris Read plays hero for England
Monday, April 19 2004
Chris Read proved the unlikeliest of heroes for England in the first One Day International against the West Indies at Bourda. Read hit 16 runs in 3 balls to narrow the equation from 20 runs needed off 10 balls to a very gettable 4 off 7 and ultimately inspiring English victory.
Due to heavy rainfall, play was delayed until 1:00 pm local time and the match reduced to a 30-over per side affair. In a rarity on tour thus far, Michael Vaughan won the toss and chose to field first. The home side started slowly and lost Gayle (2) and Powell (10) trying to force the pace. The former was bowled by Darren Gough and the latter spooned back a simple return catch to Flintoff in his first over. Two balls later into Flintoff's over, first-time West Indies captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan (0) was adjudged out LBW - 25/3 in 10 overs. There was controversy surrounding the decision however, as the ball appeared to take a noticeable inside edge before striking the pad.
Chanderpaul, who opened the batting with Gayle, continued to struggle for form. His first 12 runs came from 54 balls and entailed only singles. He then broke loose with an aerial clip to the midwicket fence followed by a glorious straight lofted six, off consecutive Harmison offerings. With that Chanderpaul set off and showed expert improvisational skills and timing to score his next 62 runs from only 40 balls until Gough had him for an entertaining 84 with the final delivery of his spell - a full toss hit straight to Clarke. At the other end support came nicely in the form of Dwayne Smith (16) and Sylvester Joseph (23 not out) and the West Indian total closed at a competitive 156/5.
There was drama immediately in the tourists' reply. Trescothick was almost run out on first ball of the innings, but it was his captain and partner who proved the first departed. Michael Vaughan completed the captains' pair, edging a sharp Dillon delivery to Jacobs without scoring. This represented just the sixth time in ODI's that both captains made ducks in the same match. In only his second international, Andrew Strauss (29) looked comfortable at the crease and he partnered a shaky Trescothick well until debutant Dwayne Bravo bowled him, as he played across the line of a full straight delivery.
Flintoff (8) came in at number four and flicked Rampaul effortlessly over square leg for six. His stay was not long however, and he fell in Gayle's first over bottom-edging a tried pull shot - 75/3. With the score still on 75, Trescothick's unconvincing effort was ended, bowled by Bravo (much like Strauss was) for 26. The young Bravo almost had Ian Blackwell out to very next ball, but Jacobs didn't get his glove to the edged drive and the ball went fine for a boundary.
The run rate continually rising with every passing over, Collingwood attempted various forms of improvisation and premeditation to get the job done. His partner, Blackwell, had a simple approach - swing hard - and he crashed a couple of huge sixes to the leg side to narrow the equation. When Collingwood (10) was brilliantly caught in the deep by Dwayne Smith, 49 runs were needed from 37 balls, but things got trickier soon with Clarke (1) and Blackwell (27) soon to follow, run out and bowled respectively.
Now the stage was set for none other than Christopher Mark Wells Read. The economical Corey Collymore returned for his second spell with figures of 4-1-8-0 already in the bank, all soon to change. Read started with a six over long on and 9 runs were claimed off his first over - the 27th. Rampaul (6-0-32-1) gave only 5 from the next and the equation read 21 runs needed and just 12 balls left.
A run from the first two balls and 20 runs now needed from 10 balls with the crowd now in full voice and confident of a home victory. A slower ball from Collymore and six runs to Read over long-off - 14 runs and 9 balls. An edge past short third man and a boundary more - 10 off 8. A slog over the midwicket fence for six more, the crowd now stunned silent. England now needed just 4 runs from 7 balls after the rampage of Read, causing Collymore's figures to balloon to 6-1-35-0.
Hope was rekindled as Gayle bowled Read with the first ball of the final over, but that was all shot out again with Harmison's rotation of the strike via a leg-bye. Gough (9 not out) sealed the deal and England emerged thrilling winners by 2 wickets.
For his late chase heroics, Chris Read was named the Man of the Match.
Match Summary:
West Indies innings 156/5 (30 overs)
(S Chanderpaul 84 [96], SC Joseph 23 not out [32])
(A Flintoff/D Gough 2/22 [10])
England innings 157/8 (29.3 overs)
(AJ Strauss 29 [46], CMW Read 27 [15], ID Blackwell 27 [21], ME Trescothick 26 [53])
(CH Gayle 3/20 [5.3], DDJ Bravo 2/31 [6])
Result: England won by 2 wickets
Series: England lead 1-0
Man of the Match: CMW Read (Eng)
Posted by Liam
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