England v West Indies
Wisden's review of the only T20 International, England v West Indies
11-Apr-2018
At Chester-le-Street, September 16 (floodlit). West Indies won by 21 runs. Toss: England.
West Indies had rarely enjoyed their trips to chilly Durham, losing their previous four matches - two one-day internationals (including one against Zimbabwe), and two Tests. But Twenty20 was different. Put in to bat, their powerful opening duo of Gayle and Lewis, master and apprentice, delivered on the promise of fireworks. The first of Gayle's four sixes - Lewis hit three - made him the first player to clear the rope 100 times in T20 internationals, and only a typically casual piece of running spared England further damage. The first ten overs brought 106, but the innings slowed once the openers departed, thanks to Plunkett's aggression and the guile of Rashid, who picked up a career-best three for 25. Still, a target of 177 was no formality, and too many of England's own power players went missing. Roy fell first ball, and Hales alone prospered, cracking 43 before he was bowled by Carlos Brathwaite. Denied pace by Narine and Nurse, the batsmen struggled to find the boundary. Buttler and Bairstow added 50 for the fifth wicket but, without Ben Stokes - controversially rested at his home ground - or Moeen Ali, the batting was too light. Three spectators were injured when part of a temporary stand collapsed, leaving one woman with a broken leg; 200 others had to be moved.
Man of the Match: S. P. Narine. A
West Indies had rarely enjoyed their trips to chilly Durham, losing their previous four matches - two one-day internationals (including one against Zimbabwe), and two Tests. But Twenty20 was different. Put in to bat, their powerful opening duo of Gayle and Lewis, master and apprentice, delivered on the promise of fireworks. The first of Gayle's four sixes - Lewis hit three - made him the first player to clear the rope 100 times in T20 internationals, and only a typically casual piece of running spared England further damage. The first ten overs brought 106, but the innings slowed once the openers departed, thanks to Plunkett's aggression and the guile of Rashid, who picked up a career-best three for 25. Still, a target of 177 was no formality, and too many of England's own power players went missing. Roy fell first ball, and Hales alone prospered, cracking 43 before he was bowled by Carlos Brathwaite. Denied pace by Narine and Nurse, the batsmen struggled to find the boundary. Buttler and Bairstow added 50 for the fifth wicket but, without Ben Stokes - controversially rested at his home ground - or Moeen Ali, the batting was too light. Three spectators were injured when part of a temporary stand collapsed, leaving one woman with a broken leg; 200 others had to be moved.
Man of the Match: S. P. Narine. A