Sports News And Updates: England v West Indies: Swann and Tredwell Keep English Hopes Alive

Filed under: Cricket, England Cricket, World Cup, ODIs, West Indies Cricket

England 243 (Jonathan Trott 47, Luke Wright 44, Andre Russell 4-49), West Indies 225 (Andre Russell 49, Chris Gayle 43, Darren Sammy 41, James Tredwell 4-48, Graeme Swann 3-36). England win by 18 runs

Graeme Swann and James Tredwell spun England to a tense and dramatic victory in Chennai to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Tredwell marked his debut in the competition with a brilliant four-wicket haul, before Swann worked his magic to take two wickets in his final over and help snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

The West Indies looked to be cruising to their target at 222-6 before Tredwell removed the dangerous Andre Russell (49) and ended a 72-run partnership with Ramnaresh Sarwan.

And Swann claimed Sarwan and Kemar Roach in the space of three balls, before Sulieman Benn was run out attempting a suicidal second run as the West Indies lost their last four wickets for three runs.

England v West Indies scorecard

The scenes of jubilation at the end as England celebrated as if they had won the entire tournament was raw emotion, but England will still have to sweat on the result of the final Group game between Bangladesh and South Africa and could still go home if the co-hosts win.

Once again England put their supporters through the wringer and they looked to be heading home when the West Indies won a crucial decision from third umpire Simon Taufel who adjudged Jonathan Trott's shirt to have touched the boundary line when claiming a catch to dismiss Russell.

Despite inconclusive TV replays Taufel awarded in the favour of the West Indies batsman and to add insult to injury Russell was also awarded a six to help him make his crucial contribution of 49 runs from just 46 balls.

Chris Gayle smashed 43 from 21 balls and Darren Sammy was equally destructive with 41 from 29 balls at the start of the West Indies reply which always had Otis Gibson's side in pole position for victory, but England held their nerve and showed tremendous courage to stay in the game - after another poor batting display.

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Once again England's batting was under-par after Strauss elected to set a target and the brittle nature of their confidence was underlined as all the top four made starts, but were unable to post a significant score.

Jonathan Trott raced to 47, but played a disappointing shot to give a simple catch to Chris Gayle and Devendra Bishoo the first of his three wickets on his ODI debut.

The leg-spinner also accounted for Luke Wright (44), who did most to get England to their modest total with a gutsy display on his first appearance in the tournament after England subsided from 120-2 to 151-6.

Russell was the most successful of the West Indies attack, finishing with 4-49 as once again England committed the cardinal sin of failing to bat their alloted overs. Fortunately the eight balls they wasted at the end of the innings did not cost them their tournament lives.

REACTION:
Strauss admits it's not easy captaining England at the moment:
"It's not really much fun, no. It has been pretty hard work in all the group games. Today was a tough game and must-win game and we did not get as many runs as we should have."

"We should have got 260, 270, but we had to fight hard with the ball and the guys stuck together brilliantly and showed their hunger and desire. Thankfully that was enough to get us over the line."

On how England can beat South Africa, the West Indies, draw with India and lose to Ireland and Bangladesh:
"If I knew the answer to that we would not have lost those two games. We have been really inconsistent. We have not played as well as we would have liked, but we have pulled out results when we have needed them.

"We have pulled out another result and I know there are other games still to be played in the group, but hopefully we have done enough to get through to the last eight."

On the character in the team and the contribution of Luke Wright and Tredwell:
"They are a close knit unit and we have been through a lot together. James Tredwell deserves great credit coming in to the game we asked a lot of questions to the guys that they have not been asked this tournament and they delivered.

"Luke Wright batted really well and we are delighted to win, but we know we have to be better. Mental freshness for the likes of Luke and James makes a big difference, but it is still hard to come in and deliver in a must win game.

"We have to be more clinical, we had a chance to get a big score and gave away too many wickets and we had problems with the ball too."

On his captaincy:
"A lot of things came off for me and that is nice. I have a smile on my face at last and that is a good feeling and we are going to enjoy this victory because the guys deserve that."

Tredwell has waited a long time to get his chance and grabbed it with both hands:
"Obviously I am delighted to get the opportunity and it feels good to have taken it and come up with some wickets."

On whether he was surprised to be included in the team:
"A little bit yes. When we played the last game here it turned square and I thought there might be a chance I would play."

On having to come on to bowl when Gayle was crashing the other bowlers around:
"You just have to try to take the bloke at the other end out of the equation and bowl in the right areas and hope that it goes your way. Thankfully it did."

On whether it has been difficult sitting on the sidelines and watching for so long:
"it has a little bit, but you just have to take each day as it comes and work hard and try to improve your game and take your chance when it comes."

On whether he has done enough to keep his place in the team if England progress:
"That will obviously depend on the balance of the side for the quarter-final and the pitch we play on. I don't think I will have done my chances any harm. We'll see what happens in a week or so."

Sammy felt his side through away the chance for victory because all his batsmen who made a start failed to play the key innings:
"I think one of our guys who got starts have to take us through. That was the problem."

On things to take out of the game:
"Bishoo and Russell were positives to come out of the game on their first appearances and the future looks well for the West Indies, but we are disappointed to lose."

On England's total:
"I was quite happy chasing 244, but we could have restricted them to less. We should have chased down the total, but that is the game of cricket, but if you do not execute all the areas of the game correctly, you run the chance of losing."

On whether he could have done things differently when England were struggling at six wickets down:
"Maybe I could have bowled Bishoo out and looked to get another wicket, but it was a gamble we took and it did not come off. All in all we should have got to the target."

On why Chris Gayle did not bowl:
"He still has a little niggle of an injury and I did not want to risk him. All in all the bowlers did well to restrict them to 243."

On what lies ahead:
"We have india next and we have to focus on that game and do what we have to do to get through."

MEMORABLE MOMENT: Strauss' decision to bring back Swann to bowl to Sarwan and use a short-leg was captaincy of the highest order and Ian Bell's catch started the wobble that won England the game.

PLAY OF THE DAY: Chris Tremlett had an awful day with the ball and suffered most at the hands of Gayle on a surface which did not really suit him, but he stayed alive throughout and his wonderful catch to dismiss Roach running from mid-off was superb for a man of his frame.

WHAT IT MEANS: England are still waiting on the results of the final group games and they know they have to play far better cricket if they do make it to the last eight. The tournament is wide open and England remain a dangerous side if they can get everything to click. As for the West Indies, qualification is still in their own hands, but they face the difficult task of beating the co-hosts India to ensure they reach the quarter-finals and the frailties exposed by England will not fill them with condfidence.

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/03/17/england-v-west-indies-cricket-graeme-swann-james-treadwell/

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