Thrilling win over Windies keeps England afloat

CHENNAI, (Reuters) – England could not overcome  their taste for cliffhangers but at least they survived another  one against West Indies yesterday to give themselves a chance  of making it to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

England’s Jonathan Trott and Luke Wright (L) celebrate after England defeated the West Indies in their ICC Cricket World Cup group B match in Chennai yesterday. REUTERS/Philip Brown

Andrew Strauss and his men may not play another game in this  World Cup — they require the outcome of the remaining Group B  matches to go their way to reach the quarter-finals — but their  thrilling 18-run victory over West Indies once again underscored  the entertainment they have provided in the tournament.

On a belter of a track at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, 243  was not an intimidating total and England’s premature exit from  the tournament seemed a matter of time when Chris Gayle (43 off  21 balls) and Darren Sammy (41 off 29) were sending ball after  ball into the stands.

This English team under Strauss have been anything but  predictable, however, or easily daunted and once again they  added a twist in the tale.

Accordingly, unheralded Kent off-spinner James Tredwell  (4-48) wrecked the West Indies top order, Ravi Bopara (2-22)  relished taking inside edges that crashed on to the stumps and  the wily Graeme Swann (3-36) polished off the tail to skittle  out West Indies in 44.4 overs.

“More than anything, the togetherness in the team got us  through,” a relieved Strauss said.

“We desperately did not want to leave the World Cup at this  stage … (Even when West Indies dominated), we still thought  there will be a twist in the tale … it was easy for heads to  possibly drop but the guys were remarkably buoyant.”

POOR FORM

A spate of injuries and poor form in the English camp had  prompted Strauss to tinker with the line-up and neither Luke  Wright, who scored a gritty 44 down the order, or Tredwell let  him down.

Strauss did not forget to thank the newcomers for keeping  England afloat.

Andre Russell

“It’s so tough for them, sitting outside, looking at matches  and waiting for their turn … Wright played exceptionally well  when wickets were falling around him and Tredwell was  outstanding, getting us those early wickets.”

At the end of their spectacularly inconsistent campaign that  included a tied match against India and defeats by Ireland and  Bangladesh, England are at the third place with seven points.

But if Bangladesh pull off an upset against South Africa on  Saturday and West Indies recover to beat India the next day,  that would end England’s campaign in the tournament.

The odds, however, are against both of those results but  this group has been nothing but unpredictable.

England’s James Tredwell celebrates taking the wicket of West Indies’ Andre Russell during their ICC Cricket World Cup group B match in Chennai March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Philip Brown

In a match where not a single batsman from either side could  reach even a half-century, England’s lion-hearted bowlers  scripted a nail-biting win to prolong the suspense in Group B.

For England fast bowler Ajmal Shahzad, however, the drama is  over. He has joined batsman Kevin Pietersen and fast bowler  Stuart Broad as England victims of a World Cup injury curse with  a hamstring problem and will play no further role in the event.