England level series with rain-affected win

Eurosport - Mon, 30 Mar 08:46:00 2009

England romped to a nine-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international against West Indies thanks to a belligerent undefeated 79 from captain Andrew Strauss in Bridgetown, Barbados.

CRICKET 2009 - England's batsman Andrew Strauss, second left, waits for an umpire's decision that he was not caught out during the fourth ODI cricket match with West Indies at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados - 0

In a rain-affected match, England were set a revised target of 135 to win in 20 overs and they were always ahead of the run rate with Strauss finishing undefeated on 79.

Strauss dabbed his ninth four in the penultimate over to level the series at 2-2 with one match to play.

It was a rare moment of satisfaction for England on a difficult tour which resulted in defeat in the Test series and a humiliating hammering in the third one-dayer on Friday when they were bowled out for 117 on the same ground.

Dwayne Bravo top-scored for the West Indies with 69 as they posted 239 for nine in their 50 overs before a long rain delay meant a re-calculation using the Duckworth-Lewis system.

Strauss set about the modest-looking target with a flurry of boundaries. He cut loose in the third over, hitting four consecutive boundaries off Lionel Baker.

With Ravi Bopara supporting well, England reached 50 in 5.2 overs before Strauss had a stroke of luck when the third umpire deemed that his edge off of Kieron Pollard had not carried to keeper Denesh Ramdin. Television replays were inconclusive.

Pollard finally had Bopara caught on the boundary for 35 but with Strauss revelling under the lights the result was already a foregone conclusion.

Earlier, West Indies skipper Chris Gayle had given his side a great start, smashing five sixes in a quickfire 47 before taking a huge heave at a short delivery from Stuart Broad and sending a steepling catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Lendl Simmons followed in the next over when he was run out and Dmitri Mascheranas took three for 26 in the middle order as West Indies lost their way.

Bravo steadied the ship with his 69 off just 72 balls to take the hosts past 200 before he was caught on the boundary by substitute fielder Ian Bell, on for Kevin Pietersen who went off with a back spasm after bowling just five balls.

Umpire Steve Bucknor was given a standing ovation at the end after officiating in the final match of a career that has spanned two decades and included 128 Tests and 181 one-day internationals.

The series will be decided in St Lucia on Friday.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. well done andrew strauss you batted well a right­ captain innings

    From stevenwaite131, on Wed 1 Apr 8:36AM

  2. England Cricket team.....don't make me­ laff........Bet they couldn't even beat England­ Ladies Team.
    What an inept, inconsistent, boring,­ unfit, lot they are........and it pains me to say­ that......but it's so true.
    Geez they need a big­ clearout. but who's gonna be brave enough to do it­ ?

    From Paul, on Mon 30 Mar 5:04PM

  3. chaz p there's a difference in chasing a total in­ 50 overs with 10 wickets in hand.... and chasing a­ total in 20 overs with 10 wickets in hand.
    any­ international team would laugh at a total of 135 in a­ twenty20 international, while many teams would not be­ so confident in chasing 240 from 50 overs.
    not many­ teams and CERTAINLY not england can maintain a run rate­ of 6.75 for 50 overs.
    as to royjohn, i fail to see­ which england batsman would've put on a competitive­ score to reach 240 bar the openers!!!!

    in my opinion­ if they have a revised total to chase in 20 overs,­ screw the D/L method...
    give them 2/5th of the score to­ chase, with 2/5th the number of wickets.
    so if WI set­ 240 to win in 50 overs,
    then in 20 overs England need­ 96 runs to win with 4 wickets in hand (2 openers, 1­ middle order batsman and a tailender)
    SIMPLE.

    From i am a teacup, on Mon 30 Mar 4:21PM

  4. I was happy to moan when England lost the time before­ last, but I will congratulate them today.
    Even though­ D/L results are always looked on with suspicion,­ England had to average 6.75 runs per over to win -­ something they did with ease. The WI however only­ averaged 4.78.
    This just goes to prove once again that­ in limited overs matches, when chasing runs, you have­ to meet or better the required run rate.

    From CHAZ P, on Mon 30 Mar 9:17AM

  5. A duckworth lewis win again for england, it seems to be­ the only way we can win matches nowadays.

    From Skittles, on Mon 30 Mar 8:29AM

  6. England probably would have won anyway, but it was made­ much easier by our friends at Duckworth/Lewis. The­ system is seriously flawed, as it ALWAYS heavily­ favours the chasing team. I dread to think of the­ carnage that Gayle would have created chasing down such­ a paltry total in 20 overs had the roles been­ reversed!!

    From roy, on Mon 30 Mar 7:54AM

  7. Those are the rules like it or not.Well done England

    From andy, on Mon 30 Mar 5:58AM

  8. Well done lads.

    From ANDREW S, on Mon 30 Mar 2:45AM

  9. i thinking that the west indies does not bat well­ beacuse they lose too many wicket beacuse barvo is the­ one that makes the most runs for west indies team but i­ say well done english team u smell the blood on west­ indies skirt beacuse u never back down so great victory­ at lose i hope wish all the best win the series in st­ lucia on friday ok i must say shame on west indies team­ and john dyson for lose the first odi for ur error ok­ so if u lose the series u most go for good that my­ story ok

    From tyrone_taylor2000, on Mon 30 Mar 1:11AM

  10. God Bless Duckworth and Lewis
    The Devil take the the­ committee of old farts that seem intent on destroying­ English/Welsh cricket
    Are they the same lunatics that­ hire inept managers for millions in football and change­ their minds eveery game in rugby union as to who might­ get their arses out of the frying pan ???
    One day the­ old school tie will disappear with a humiliated grimace­ and those sportspeople with talent and merit, those­ managers with the ability to manage will remove the­ overprivileged half-wits thaqt have made fortunes and­ given nothing to our sporting heritage other than­ embarressment.
    We appear to be in the thrall of thugs­ and accountants - which is which I leave you to­ guess.
    Small boys, jumpers for­ goalposts..............................................­ .................................

    From OldRed, on Mon 30 Mar 12:22AM

  11. A well deserved victory...even viv richards said so, so­ dont listen to any negativity guys

    From laboca123, on Mon 30 Mar 12:14AM

  12. It is a D/L series. rubbish series..

    From Manish V, on Mon 30 Mar 12:13AM

  13. f
    a
    r
    c
    e

    From i am a teacup, on Sun 29 Mar 11:42PM

  14. Well done Andrew Strauss, a real captain's innings.

    From hairy_jock, on Sun 29 Mar 11:39PM
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