West Indies take ODI series 2-1

The West Indies players finally have something to smile about, after defeating England in the 3rd and final one-day match of the series.

After being comprehensively thrashed in the Tests, the West Indies players looked down and out after the first ODI, which they lost by 79 runs at Lord’s. However a magnificent century by Shivnarine Chanderpaul at Edgbaston kept their hopes alive going into the decider at Trent Bridge.

Chris Gayle led from the front in his side’s emphatic 93 run win over England, a win some are calling the turning point of West Indies cricket and the start of the new, post-Brian Lara era for the Windies.

West Indies won the toss in the freezing cold and elected to bat with an unchanged side from the second match. Chris Gayle, who had had a pretty mediocre series to date started off slowly and to the crowd’s surprise he took a back seat as Devon Smith smacked two fours off Plunkett’s first over to put England on the back foot early in the match.

It wouldn’t last though, one more four later and Smith was gone, driving the ball to backward point off James Anderson, only to be caught by Ian Bell for 13. It was a solid catch by Bell and a vital breakthrough wicket with Smith looking in good touch.

However, his dismissal only brought in Shivnarine Chanderpaul to the crease. The man England had been struggling to dismiss all summer and had just flayed them at Edgbaston.

Soon afterwards Chris Gayle was dropped by Alastair Cook, still on zero as the West Indies looked to rebuild and set a solid foundation. Both men started cautiously, which began to pay off as the runs accumulated. Nearing the 20th over and WI were still only the one wicket down. However, Chanderpaul, sensing the side needed to get a move on, began to lash out at the English attack, hoisting Panesar for a sweet six in his third over.

The tactic failed though with Chanderpaul out the next over to Anderson after Kevin Pietersen took a brilliant catch, running backwards. After a poor day in the field from England, it took a magnificent piece of fielding to dismiss the magnificent batsman, the one England so desperately wanted to remove from the crease.

Next man in, Marlon Samuels didn’t last long and after two cracking fours, was sent back to the pavilion by Liam Plunkett for nine.

Runako Morton and Chris Gayle did an excellent job of consolidating the score, Gayle playing the steady, anchor role for a change. He was finally out, well into the 41st over to an extremely unusual and tame dismissal, caught and bowled off Plunkett for 82, coming at a strike rate of just over 65. The skipper had put his side in a prime position to go on with it in the final ten overs and set a daunting total.

Which they did. Led by Morton and Bravo, the West Indies pulverised the English death bowling attack. Gayle had departed in the 42nd over at 193 for the loss of four wickets. Eight overs later, the West Indies batsman had piled on another 96 runs to take the score to a formidable total of 289 at the end of the 50th over. Morton finished with an unbeaten 82 whilst Bravo was out on the second last ball after an excellent 42 off 24 deliveries.

None of the English bowlers did particularly well, Mascarenhas the most economical, only conceding 28 runs in his eight overs. Liam Plunkett was the lead wicket taker with three, but it came at an expensive price of 59 runs from his 10 overs.

The England batsmen didn’t fare much better and started off poorly in their reply with Powell removing Prior for just the single run in the third over of the innings. Prior never look comfortable as he hit the ball straight into the waiting hands of fellow wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

Cook and new man in, Bell, began to defend and with the required run rate rising, it wasn’t long before Powell struck again. This time a double blow in the ninth over, dismissing both Cook for 18 and Kevin Pietersen for nought within three superb deliveries. The latter was the wicket the West Indies wanted, the man that could win the match and series for England off his own bat. Now with his departure, England were in serous trouble at 3/33.

England were in futher trouble when Ian Bell failed to capitalise on his start and was out to Dwayne Smith on 27, with a mere strike rate of 60 and the required run rate approaching seven an over.

Shah, 51, and the captain Collingwood, 44, did well to put on an impressive 72 run partnership, but it just wasn’t enough as England crumbled to be all out for 196, only the tail consisting of Panesar and Anderson showing any real resistance and fight.

But by then it was all over, West Indies had won the series 2-1 after being one match down early on. The smiles were finally on display for all to see as the Windies players danced off the field and into the dressing room were the party was only just beginning.

West Indies 289/5
Runako Morton 82*, Chris Gayle 82
Liam Plunkett 3-59, James Anderson 2-51

England 196
Owais Shah 51, Paul Collingwood 44
Daren Powell 4-40, Fidel Edwards 3-30

West Indies won by 93 runs and secure the three match ODI series against England, 2-1.