Grenada: Adil Rashid snared four wickets in five balls as England resisted a determined West Indies effort to claim a 29-run victory in a high-scoring fourth One-Day International at the National Stadium in Grenada here Wednesday.
Responding to the tourists’ mammoth total of 418 for six, the highest ever in an ODI in the Caribbean, the home side were set on course by a rampaging 162 by veteran opener Chris Gayle (162, 97b, 11×4, 14×6) .
They remained in the hunt until the 48th over when leg-spinner Rashid, who had taken a fearful hammering in his first four overs, broke an 88-run seventh-wicket partnership between Carlos Brathwaite (50, 36b, 4×4, 2×6) and Ashley Nurse (43, 41b, 5×4).
He then scythed through the tail — taking the last three wickets in the next four balls — to finish with figures of five for 85 in 10 overs.
Despite Rashid finishing as the match-winner with the last five wickets of the innings, it was fast bowler Mark Wood (10-60-4) who prevented the home side from running away with the game.
Jos Buttler (150, 77b, 13×4, 12×6) led the way for England with a rampaging innings of 150 while Eoin Morgan (103, 88b, 8×4, 6×6) hit an impressive century of his own.
Their fourth-wicket partnership of 204 came in less than 21 overs and followed an excellent comeback innings of 82 by Alex Hales (82, 73b, 8×4, 2×6) at the top of the order.
England bludgeoned 154 runs off the final ten overs with Buttler accounting for 105 of those in a withering display of power-hitting.
Gayle’s effort in response, which included 14 sixes and 11 fours, was remarkable given the 39-year-old left-hander’s relative lack of mobility.
Supported by 61 from Darren Bravo (61, 59b, 4×4, 4×6) in a 176-run third-wicket partnership, Gayle looked in the mood to take the home side to a sensational victory until he was bowled heaving at Ben Stokes in the 35th over.
When Holder departed at 301 for six, West Indies chances appeared extinguished.
However Brathwaite, who registered a maiden ODI fifty, and Nurse (43) kept up with the required rate in an entertaining stand.
AFP
