The number nine ranked Windies surprised the number one ranked England in the five-match ODI series by levelling the rubber 2-2 with one match being abandoned. The home side came into the series on the back of a thumping 2-1 series win in the Test series but their numbers in the 50-over format in the recent past left much to be desired, having not won a series in the previous four years. It was a series where the willow generally held sway over the leather with the 39-year old Chris Gayle setting the world alight in what might well be his last series at home for the Windies, having made his debut in the last century.
Stats highlights from the record-breaking ODI series between Windies and England.
Sixes, sixes and more sixes
46 Sixes hit in the fourth game in Grenada - the most in ODI cricket. They comfortably beat the previous record of 38 in the Bengaluru ODI between India and Australia in November 2013.
he Leeward Islands Hurricanes completed a massive 134-run win over the Jamaica Scorpions in their Regional Four-day game at Sabina Park yesterday to consolidate their spot at second in the table.
The visitors resumed on yesterday’s third day on 171 for three, an overall lead of 131. They stretched their total to 312 with good contributions coming from several players. Casey Karty held the middle order together with a patient 68. Rahkeem Cornwall blitzed his way to 52 from 63 balls with some audacious stroke play, while captain Kieran Powell, batting at seven, after being off the field for a long time due to illness, made an assured 54. Devon Thomas had scored 65 on the second day, which meant that four of the Hurricanes top seven batsmen made half-centuries in their second innings.
Oshane Thomas's maiden five-fer, followed by Chris Gayle's record-breaking half-century in a brutal batting assault on England pacers, helped Windies draw the five-match ODI series 2-2 with a commanding seven-wicket win in the final fixture, at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia on Saturday (March 2). Windies, thus averted their 18th series loss on the trot in the format.
Windies meant business in the series decider, and showed exactly that with their clinical bowling show to skittle England for just 113, but the lowly target didn't stop Gayle from having his own fun. The left-handed opener slammed the fastest fifty for a West Indian, off just 19 deliveries, studded with half-a-dozen sixes, to better Sammy's record of 20 balls, and in the process, set up the hosts' easy win with more than 36 overs to spare and even before a formal "innings break".
Set a target of 114, Gayle blew the English bowlers away with his whirlwind 27-ball 77 that included nine sixes and five more boundaries. He went after Chris Wokaes and later Mark Wood, but almost single-handedly dictated the chase for the eight overs that he lasted in the middle.
Woakes was hit for back-to-back boundaries and then a six in his opening over itself, and there was no turning back from there. His next over yielded 23 runs, including three sixes. Wookes, and England, momentarily thought the carnage was over when he had the batsman caught in the deep off a short delivery but the umpire deemed it a no-ball for it was his third bouncer in the over. Gayle took the attack to Wood next, who was dispatched for five sixes and a boundary in the space of two overs.
It’s back to St. Lucia for Windies and England; this time for the fifth and final ODI, at the Daren Sammy Cricket ground on Saturday. After posting what was one of the highest ever totals in One Day Internationals (joint 8th) on Wednesday at the St. George’s Stadium in Grenada, the visitors were made to sweat as the hosts had the audacity to attempt a successful chase of 419. It was indeed a valiant effort, but West Indies fell short by 29 runs in the end. We know, all too well however, that ‘almosts’ and second places are not remembered.
And so, Caribbean fans will set out to determine ‘cause-of-loss’ in their post-match autopsy. While many understandably, have pinpointed Hetmyer’s dismissal as the cause; what of Jos Buttler being put down on 93?
In Windies’ chase, the only batsmen not to make an impact were Shai Hope (who was expertly set up) and Hetmyer. Now, if we have to go back to one of these two batsmen who did not contribute so as to lay blame, it says to me that 419 was too large a target. One could argue that the pitch was a batting paradise of course, among other things; but all things no longer remain equal when scoreboard pressure comes into play. 419 is a total that leaves almost no room for error; when has limited room for error and run-chases ever bode well for a team?
Jamaica Scorpions bowlers were made to toil as Leeward Islands Hurricanes made a strong presentation with the bat in their second innings, on day two of the ninth-round West Indies Championship four-day match at Sabina Park yesterday. Hurricanes, led by another solid 65 from Devon Thomas, closed the day on 171-3 — a lead of 131 runs — after earlier conceding a 40-run first-innings lead to the Scorpions.
Like he did in the first innings, Thomas took the Scorpions bowling to task with an exciting 85-ball knock that included 10 boundaries and a solitary six.The 29-year-old starred in a fierce, 89-run second-wicket stand, with 21-year-old Keacy Carty, in laying the foundation for the Hurricanes on a pitch that continues to show life with the ball coming onto the bat nicely.
THE Guyana Jaguars entered the ninth round Cricket West Indies Regional Four-day encounter against Barbados Pride facing a must-win situation, and after two days of competitive cricket they earned supremacy.
The four-time defending champions wrestled total control at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence for the second day in succession. Faced with a first-innings deficit of 125 runs Barbados closed yesterday on 228 for six, a second-innings lead of just 103 runs with four wickets remaining.
Pride’s battle was spearheaded through half-century from Shayne Moseley (64), Jonathan Carter (47), Shamarh Brooks (44), and an unbeaten 28 from Tevyn Walcott, but after a fluctuating day, the reality was that it entirely belonged to the hosts.
Resuming the day unbeaten on 80, Pierre notched his maiden century guiding the Red Force to 307 all out in its first innings after starting the day on 254 for six.
Pierre ended on 106 not out off 221 deliveries with ten fours and three sixes. Imran Khan, who combined with Pierre to put on 141 for the seventh wicket, was the first Red Force batsman dismissed yesterday for 71.
Red Force lost two quick wickets to slump to 267/9, leaving Pierre in danger of not getting his century.
