Cow Corner Blog

Flintoff fires England to victory

Fri Apr 03 02:29PM

23.07 - West Indies 146-all out (28 overs) ENGLAND WIN BY 26 RUNS! James Anderson's final over goes for six runs, but just as Flintoff was about to go for his six-for, Sammy attempts a suicidal second run and is out, yards from his crease. England win by 26 runs, after being inspired by Andrew Flintoff's five-for and hat-trick!

SCORECARD

MATCH GALLERY

23.00 - West Indies 140-9 (26.5 overs) HAT-TRICK!!! Andrew Flintoff sends Sulieman Benn's off-stump cartwheeling and takes a hat-trick and completes his five-for all in one delivery! Again it was full and straight, and again it was too good for a West Indian batsman.

22.59 - West Indies 140-8 (26.4 overs) WICKET! Flintoff is on a hat-trick! The big man bowls Rampaul, who tries to whip a full ball on middle and leg off his pads, but ends up looking back to see his stumps scattered!

22.58 - West Indies 140-7 (26.3 overs) WICKET! Flintoff bowls Ramdin with a ball that was full, straight and far too fast for the West Indian!

22.54 - West Indies 135-6 (26 overs) Broad gives the Windies no freebies at all, but Sammy and Ramdin manage eight runs from it, but it looks like that won't be enough.

22.50 - West Indies 127-6 (25 overs) James Anderson distinguishes himself again in this match, with an over of exceptional guile and accuracy, which goes for just three runs as England turn the screw on the West Indies.

22.46 - West Indies 124-6 (24.1 overs) WICKET! Two wickets in two balls, as Anderson is driven in the air to long-on, where Collingwood bags the catch, dropping to his knees as it dipped - Sammy is the next man in.

22.43 - West Indies 124-5 (24 overs) WICKET! Stuart Broad has Dwayne Bravo caught at extra cover by Flintoff with his final ball of an eventful over! Pollard smashed the second delivery for six over deep-cover, before Broad and Pollard collide and a run-out appeal is turned down. Big wicket for England!

22.35 - West Indies 117-4 (23 overs) Flintoff bowls two yorkers in an over which West Indies are forced to rashly attack, with seven runs managed, including a chip over the off-side outfield by Bravo for four.

The batting powerplay has been taken, and England counter by bringing back Andrew Flintoff - something has to give.

22.30 - West Indies 110-4 (22 overs) Stuart Broad continues his immaculate bowling spell, with three singles and a leg-bye, the only runs which are squeezed out of the over by the West Indian pair.

22.26 - West Indies 106-4 (21 overs) James Anderson returns, as England step up the pace as we approach the final overs; the opener is milked for six singles, but it still won't satisfy Pollard and Bravo, who need boundaries.

22.22 - West Indies 100-4 (20 overs) It's a time for round numbers, as West Indies bring up their hundred, with Bravo flicking a stray off-side ball from Stuart Broad out to Harmison for the fourth single of the over.

West Indies require 71 runs from 52 balls.

22.17 - West Indies 96-4 (19 overs) Mascarenhas and Collingwood positively race through their next overs, with a six from Pollard helping to notch 12 runs from Collingwood's, after Dmitry had taken the West Indians to the brink of frustration, going for just three.

22.11 - West Indies 81-4 (17 overs) James Anderson and Dwayne Bravo exchange words in a heated conversation in the middle, adding further spice to what was already an edgy encounter; Bravo drives Collingwood's final ball for four, with six coming off the over. 

22.07 - West Indies 75-4 (16 overs) Collingwood rounds off his over without any fuss at all, with just two runs coming from it; then Mascarenhas races through his six deliveries, to the cost of four singles - West Indies are really struggling to apply the pace on the ball on such a slow wicket.

22.01 - West Indies 70-4 (14.1 overs) WICKET! Collingwood strikes with the first ball of his second over, to remove the prized wicket of Shiv Chanderpaul! The ball was short of a length, and Chanderpaul attempted a slog-sweep which picked out substitute fielder Ian Bell in the deep, who took the catch - England firmly in the ascendency now!

21.58 - West Indies 69-3 (14 overs) Just a single scoring shot is played off Mascarenhas's second over, in which the all-rounder did very little wrong, but Dwayne Bravo played a staggering lofted cover drive, which sailed over the ropes for six - pure timing!

21.53 - West Indies 63-3 (13 overs) Paul Collingwood replicates Mascarenhas from the other end, bowling an immaculate collection of deliveries all around off-stump, which Bravo and Chanderpaul combat by scampering between the wickets.

21.49 - West Indies 59-3 (12 overs) Dmitry Mascarenhas demonstrates his worth in limited overs cricket, with a tight line and length which results in just three runs being scored. It's military medium from both ends now, as Paul Collingwood is set to trundle in after drinks.

 

21.44 - West Indies 56-3 (11 overs) An erratic Harmison over, in stark contrast to Flintoff's, yields ten runs for West Indies, who are behind the required rate, but have seen the back of England's talismanic all-rounder, for now.

21.39 - West Indies 47-3 (10 overs) Another hugely effective and economical over from Flintoff comes to an end, with just two runs scored off it, in addition to the wicket of Simmons.

Before England get too buoyant, it is worth noting that this is typical Chanderpaul: biding his time before cutting loose - how many overs does Strauss save for Flintoff at the death?

21.34 - West Indies 45-3 (9.1 overs) WICKET! Flintoff strikes again! Simmons latches on to a ball which Flintoff dug-in, just short of a length, but it is a poorly timed pull-shot which hits the splice and is comfortably caught at mid-on by Broad - can England keep the Windies under the cosh?

21.30 - West Indies 43-2 (9 overs) A huge appeal goes up from behind the stumps as Steve Harmison pitches a full, wide one which Chanderpaul chases, but his bat hits the ground not the ball, which umpire Steve Davis acknowledges.

21.23 - West Indies 40-2 (7.3 overs) WICKET! Flintoff continues his flawless spell by getting his third delivery to zip through a touch quicker than Sarwan expected, and another key Windies batsman is dismissed, for 28, as Matt Prior takes a regulation catch behind the stumps.

21.17 - West Indies 32-1 (6 overs) The first powerplay is over after a fine opening over from the ever-reliable Flintoff, who cramps Simmons for room outside off-stump.

21.10 - West Indies 31-1 (5 overs) James Anderson suffers a similar fate to Stuart Broad, going for nine runs, causing Andrew Strauss to instruct Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison to warm up vigorously for what appears to be a double-change.

21.03 - West Indies 22-1 (4 overs) After four overs, England were also 22-1, demonstrating how neatly poised this series decider is. Stuart Broad did not enjoy that last over, going for 10 runs in all, as Sarwan and Simmons eye crucial boundaries.

20.56 - West Indies 4-1 (2 overs) Stuart Broad continues the good work started by James Anderson with a tight over constricting Sarwan and Simmons to two solitary singles, complemented by some determined and aggressive out-fielding.

20.49 - West Indies 1-1 (0.3 overs) WICKET! James Anderson, after being named one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year, marks the occasion by first bowling a wide, then having the dangerman Chris Gayle caught at slip by Andrew Flintoff - what a start for England!

20.40 - ENGLAND HAVE SET WEST INDIES 173 TO WIN.

20.36 - England 172-5 (29 overs) A 60-run partnership from Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior has given England a chance as they set West Indies 173 runs to win the match and the series. The pair did well to scamper crucial runs, in addition to two boundaries in the final over from Sammy, which went for 14.

Chris Gayle wields an imaginary bat as he walks off with his side - England will need to remove the captain very early if they are to win this.

20.32 - England 159-5 (28 overs) Dwayne Bravo completes a superb spell of medium pace, finishing with figures of 5-0-31-0 and just seven runs coming off the penultimate over.

20.24 - England 150-5 (27 overs) Sammy completes his over, with England taking 10 runs from it, but West Indies are tightening it up following the powerplays, fielding very well as Collingwood in particular, tries desperately to raise the run-rate above six.

20.19 - England 134-5 (25.4 overs) England take 14 runs off Pollard's fifth over. But in the following over Umpire Steve Davis penalises West Indies captain Chris Gayle for having too many fielders outside of the circle, and awards England a free-hit; Pollard recovers brilliantly, pitching up a yorker and Prior can't make any meaningful contact.

20.11 - England 126-5 (24 overs) England take the batting powerplay, putting the onus firmly on Prior and Collingwood to exploit the field restrictions and give the visitors the strong finish that they so desperately require.

20.06 - England 113-5 (22 overs) Sulieman Benn completes his fine spell, justifying his selection with 6-0-23-2 - and those figures despite having his first two overs attacked by Bopara and Pietersen.

20.01 - England 112-5 (20.5 overs) WICKET! Andrew Flintoff attempts a baffling shot: a skied flick to short mid-wicket, where Chanderpaul dives to take a Hollywood catch off Pollard, who England just can't seem to get off the square. Matt Prior is the new batsman, with England reeling.

19.56 - England 107-4 (19.2 overs) WICKET! Owais Shah, who never looked comfortable at the crease, ends his tour with the bat after scoring just six, catching a pull shot on the splice and watching it collected by Simmons without fuss. Flintoff and Collingwood now have to take England on.

19.53 - England 105-3 (19 overs) England are projected a total of 163 if they continue at their current run-rate of 5.63 per over, which despite the slow wicket and variable bounce, would not be an overly testing target for the West Indies.

19.51 - England 104-3 (18.1 overs) WICKET! Bopara falls for 44 after a very useful knock. His attempted heave over midwicket sliced up in the air off the bowling of Pollard, leaving Ramdin to calmly collect the catch.

19.48 - England 101-2 (17 overs) The hundred is up for England as Bopara pulls another Sammy long hop for six! Owais Shah settles himself in, with a flurry of singles whipped through the on-side, but England need him to find his straps.

19.41 - England 88-2 (15.3 overs) WICKET! Pietersen is caught in acrimonious circumstances by Sammy off the bowling of Benn, with the ball looking very suspiciously as though it had bounced; but Pietersen departs for a bright and breezy 48.

19.36 - England 85-1 (14 overs) Pietersen attempts a bizarre slog-paddle shot to a short-pitched ball from Sammy, but he is fortunate that no fielder is in place to catch it as it loops up tamely. Bopara then has a ball leap up at him from a length, further demonstrating the variable bounce in the pitch.

19.29 - England 76-1 (13 overs) Bopara steps back and swivels in his crease to pull Darren Sammy for six in fine style. The two batsmen exchange frustrated expressions as Bopara is nearly run-out after Pietersen believed he didn't hear a call, but Bravo's throw narrowly misses the stumps.

19.23 - England 65-1 (12 overs) Pietersen, having nearly been run out on two occasions, has really stepped up the running between the wickets in conjunction with Bopara as Sulieman Benn bowls a tight over with just three sharp singles coming off it.

19.17 - England 54-1 (10 overs) A Bopara edge past the vacant slip position is followed by an inside edge by Pietersen which Dinesh Ramdin can't stop. Both batsmen are advancing aggressively down the wicket at every opportunity after the pace of Edwards was withdrawn.

19.09 - England 46-1 (9 overs) Pietersen dispatches a slower ball from Rampaul, straight over the bowlers head for six past mid-on to move on to 26. Chris Gayle is uncharacteristically animated as he tinkers with his fielders.

19.03 - England 35-1 (7 overs) Powerplay one is followed immediately by another, for overs 7-9, as Pietersen scrambles desperately back into his crease to avoid a run-out, while Bopara moves serenely on to 13, rocking back and punching a drive through the off-side.

18.43 - England 19-1 (4 overs) Pietersen hammers two powerful drives through the covers, as Edwards's second over yields nine runs: the England number three looks in ominous form already.

18.35 - England 8-1 (2 overs) WICKET! Strauss is incredibly late on a pull-shot from a short-pitched ball from Ravi Rampaul, and the ball loops tamely up from his bat's splice to Dwayne Bravo at square-leg. A disappointing end to the captain's fine tour.

18.30 - England 1-0 (1 over) Fidel Edwards gets us underway with a fierce but erratic bouncer to Andrew Strauss, which umpire Steve Davis has no hesitation in calling a wide - a feisty start from the slingy paceman.

18.20 - The pitch looks very cracked and it is likely to be pretty slow. There is a fervent atmosphere at the Beausejour Stadium, let's hope for a match to do it justice.

18.11 - WEST INDIES WIN THE TOSS AND CHOOSE TO FIELD. No surprises there. Chris Gayle also announces that there are two changes to his side, with Ravi Rampaul in for Lionel Baker, and as expected, Benn in for Miller.

18.03 - It now looks like we have a 29-over match with play finally due to start at 6.30pm! Fingers crossed...

17.57 - TEAM NEWS: England have named an unchanged side according to reports, which means that Steve Harmison keeps his place, with Gareth Batty missing out.

17.45 - Next inspection at 6pm. Reporters are becoming increasingly irate as the umpires continue to make themselves 'unavailable for comment'. The next scheduled inspection will take place at 6pm - which team will a further reduced match please the most, and will it affect the selected line-ups? A stiff Steve Harmison in very limited overs does not bode particularly well.

17.37 - Update: There will be a further delay of 30 minutes as the umpires change their minds again as to the state of the pitch - bizarrely, the players are happily messing around on the outfield right now. The giant sponges on wheels are mopping 'moisture' off the pitch, but the extended delay seems baffling to everyone now.

17.28 - As this match looks set to start farcically late, you can follow the South Africa v Australia match by clicking on the link attached to this story. Mike Hussey, who followed his captain Ricky Ponting in opting out of the IPL, has made 83 in an Australia total of 286/7 from their 50 overs.

17.15 - Bad news to report: The umpires are still not satisfied with a few areas of the outfield, with wet patches understood to be halting proceedings. It seems slightly strange as the players have been out warming up in those areas for a long while now.

17.05 - With another match being reduced in overs, do you think teams should improvise with their line-ups? For example, should England not be promoting Andrew Flintoff and demoting Andrew Strauss due to the revised format, or should they stick rigidly to the established order? Equally, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle would surely give the Windies the fastest start at the top of their batting line-up, with Simmons dropping down.

16.47 - It is important to point out that this game is a 'day game', despite the fact that it was originally scheduled to be a 'day-nighter'. Therefore, we will be requiring some sharpish over-rates from both sides if we are to get this match in before the light fades in St Lucia - or those trusy D/L sheets of John Dyson's.

16.32 - To update you on the earlier answer regarding powerplays in a reduced-overs match, of the 33 overs, there will be powerplays of seven, three and three overs respectively. Three bowlers can bowl no more than seven overs, any others can bowl no more than six.

16.15 - The toss will take place at 5.30, with play starting at 6. The match will be 33 overs a side: a semi-slog!

Although the heavy sarcasm was detected in the calls for Michael Vaughan as Player of the Year, whoever does the business for England in the Ashes this summer (assuming someone does), will most certainly be recognised by Wisden next year. Cowers's money is on MS Dhoni for the next batch of awards, along with Jesse Ryder and Stuart Broad - how about that?

16.04 - The inspection is underway! The tension is palpable out there as umpires Steve Davis and Norman Malcolm stride up and down the wicket purposefully. Graham Thorpe has more stimulating thoughts for us in his most recent blog, in which he calls for the 'big men to come back' into the game, referencing Jesse Ryder of New Zealand. Cowers was a big fan of Mark Ealham and Ian Austin a few years back, while Ian Blackwell and Michael Yardy are also festively plump, along with Samit Patel. Any others, post them in the comments section.

15.50 - A footnote to the reduced overs speculation: lest we forget that Sulieman Benn has proved pretty adept at bowling in the 'bish, bash, bosh' formats - his painfully slow twirlers are deceptively difficult to slog over the shed! It goes without saying surely that Claire Taylor is Cricketer of the Year, but if any of you have any better shouts for the other places, post them up: unless that is if you want to tout Ian Bell, in which case keep that one to yourself.

15.39 - Cowers would like to put forward the names of Mitchell Johnson, Dale Steyn and Kumar Sangakkara for Wisden's amended award. Frankly, yes Durham won the Championship, which for their captain Benkenstein was a fine achievement, but there were players who performed to a considerably higher standard, in the Cumbrian side alone. Jimmy Anderson has improved, but that is not what the award is supposed to recognise. Neil McKenzie's Test average is distinctly average and he makes Geoffrey Boycott look like Vivian Richards. Thoughts...?

15.30 - In regards to jongros's question, yes, the power plays will be reduced in accordance with reduced overs if that is the case. Updates will follow, once the umpires make a decision, but they may just put everything back an hour...it seems to be in fashion! Stephenaanderton, KP has vowed never to spend this amount of time away from his wife again, but she will just have to join him on tour next time. Interesting point about the Windies having the sloggers if the overs are reduced - anyone agree with that? Gayle, Sarwan and Shivy (after he's nurdled a 40) aside, I'm not sure the hosts outpower England.

15.22 - Update: The pitch inspection has been put back to 4pm, with the players out stroking and tapping the wicket with a surprising amount of intrigue. Circumspection has no place in either captain's mind at this stage, with the winner of the toss likely to put the opposition in to bat. David Gower has announced with conviction that whoever chases will win, and who is to disagree with that - the pressure is on Andrew Strauss and Chris 'let's play cricket' Gayle.

15.15 - Team speculation: For the West Indies, slower than slow-bowler Sulieman Benn is expected to come in for the injured Nikita Miller, who picked up a side strain while attempting a heave over midwicket.

For England, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, having been passed fit following a thumb injury and a back spasm respectively (club cricketers everywhere audibly sighing) should slot back in, with the big call resting on whether off-spinner Gareth Batty will replace paceman Steve Harmison.

YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE...

The big talking point in the Cowshed today was the annual Wisden Cricketer of the Year awards. One might speculate that the controversy would be focused on Claire Taylor, but the England women's star player is not the only one provoking raised eyebrows from the list. Enigmatic England bowler James Anderson was named, along with Durham's Kolpak captain Dale Benkenstein, and South Africa duo Mark Boucher and Neil McKenzie.

Simply put, what do you think of those recognised? Who is the most surprising name on the list? And, what does the list say about the current state of world cricket? Plenty to chew on.

GOOD AFTERNOON CRICKET FANS!

Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the fifth and deciding one-day international between West Indies and England in St Lucia.

The hosts have put their ongoing contractual dispute to one side, with captain Chris Gayle in his usual ebullient mood. "Enough of all that talking off the field," said the opener. "Let's play cricket on it!" Insightful and inspiring stuff.

With the two sides locked at 2-2, England require some of their world-weary travellers to, in Eurosport's own Graham Thorpe's words, "show their pride and lead by example". Cowers has been lying down with the intermittent showers at the Beausejour Stadium, but the covers are tentatively coming off, with a pitch inspection at 3pm.

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