BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Marlon Samuels provided a support act to openers Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle to help West Indies to a 27-run win over England to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match Twenty20 International series at Kensington Oval yesterday.
Samuels scored an unbeaten 69 as West Indies reached 170 for three and then restricted England to 143 for nine.
The West Indies won the toss and decided to bat first and were off to a challenging start from Smith and Gayle. Smith was off the mark with the first ball, hitting Stuart Broad for six and West Indies piling 19 runs off the first over.
When Smith was bowled by Ravi Bopara for 27 in the sixth over, West Indies were already 57 runs rich and a showpiece of batting display by Gayle and Samuels.
Gayle scored a quickfire 43 off 35 balls including five fours and two sixes before being leg before wicket to James Tredwell.
A 54-run partnership from 38 balls between Samuels and Andre Russell took West Indies to 170 after Lendl Simmons was dismissed for three.
Samuels’ half century came up off 28 balls and he was unbeaten on 69 and Russell on 24, as the Windies set England a challenging 171 for victory.
“I’ve been working hard, it was a wonderful crowd so I had to come out and play. They loved Carl Hooper and I came out to play in his style. It worked out well for us as we have some wonderful spinners,” said Samuels.
Bopara (2-23) and James Tredwell (1-16) were the successful bowlers for England.
The visitors never seriously threatened the Windies’ total and were reeling on 55 for 5 midway through their innings.
Only Tim Bresnan and Ravi Bopara made useful scores to England’s total of 143 for 9. Bopara made 42 and Bresnan was unbeaten on 47 as Samuel Badree and Samuels made closed in on the victory.
Badree finished with 3-17 and Samuels 2-21 for the man-of-the-match award.
Sunil Narine bowled only two overs (1-8) as he was troubled by a knee injury.
“He’s being looked after, so fingers crossed everything is alright,” said West Indies captain Darren Sammy.
West Indies take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series and will look to take an unassailable lead in the second match tomorrow, at the same venue.
Summarised Scores
West Indies 170 for three (Marlon Samuels 69 not out, Chris Gayle 43, Dwayne Smith 27, Andre Russell 24; Ravi Bopara 2-23, James Tredwell 1-16).
England 143 for 9 (Tim Bresnan 47*, Ravi Bopara 42, Eoin Morgan 19; Samuel Badree 3-17, Marlon Samuels 2-21, Sunil Narine 1-8).
Scoreboard
Toss: West Indies, who chose to bat
West Indies 170 for 3 (20.0 overs)
Dwayne Smith b Bopara 27
Chris Gayle lbw b Tredwell 43
Marlon Samuels not out 69
Lendl Simmons c Lumb b Bopara 3
Andre Russell not out 24
Did not bat: Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin+, Darren Sammy*, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Samuel Badree
Extras (lb 3, nb 1) 4
Total (3 wkts; 20.0 overs) 170
Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-87, 3-112
Bowling: Stuart Broad 2-0-26-0 (1nb), Jade Dernbach 4-0-36-0, Tom Bresnan 4-0-36-0, Ben Stokes 2-030-0, Ravi Bopara 4-023-2, James Tredwell 4-0-16-1
England 143 for 9 (20.0 overs)
Michael Lumb c Rampaul b Badree 18
Alex Hales st +Ramdin b Badree 3
Luke Wright st +Ramdin b Badree 0
Eoin Morgan c sub (J Charles) b Samuels 19
Jos Buttler+ c sub (J Charles) b Narine 0
Ravi Bopara c & b Bravo 42
Ben Stokes st +Ramdin b Samuels 4
Tim Bresnan not out 47
Stuart Broad* run out (+Ramdin) 5
James Tredwell run out (Russell) 1
Jade Dernbach not out 1
Extras (b 1, lb 2) 3
Total (9 wkts; 20.0 overs) 143
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-13, 3-36, 4-40, 5-55, 6-73, 7-101, 8-123, 9-133
Bowling: Samuel Badree 4-0-17-3, Ravi Rampaul 3-0-31-0, Sunil Narine 2-0-8-1, Dwayne Bravo 4-0-30-1, Marlon Samuels 4-0-21-2, Darren Sammy 1-0-12-0, Andre Russell 2-0-21-0
Result: West Indies won by 27 runs
Man-of-the-Match: Marlon Samuels (West Indies)
Umpires: Peter Nero, Joel Wilson
TV Umpre: Gregory Brathwaite
Fourth Official: Nigel Duguid
Match Referee: Andrew Pycroft
