World Cup: England record a thrilling 18-run win over West Indies

Spinners James Tredwell and Graeme Swann took advantage of a turning track at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as England beat West Indies by 18 runs to keep their hopes alive in the World Cup.

The two offies took seven wickets between them as West Indies crashed from 222 for six to 225 all out to give England a lifeline in the tournament.

Man-of-the-match Tredwell, who finished with figures of 4 for 48, took the wicket of Andre Russel (49, 46b, 4x2, 6x3) to break his 72-run seventh wicket partnership with Ramnaresh Sarwan before Swann grabbed two wickets in his last over to reduce West Indies to 223 for nine. Two runs later, Sulieman Benn was run out.

England will now have to wait for the result of the South Africa-Bangladesh match in Mirpur and India-West Indies encounter in Chennai to know about their fate in the championship.

A South African win will ensure England’s entry into the last eight stage and in case of an upset by Bangladesh, they can still make it to the quarterfinals if India beat West Indies on Sunday.

They can also make it even if India lose, but then they will have to pray for a big win for the West Indies. In that scenario, England and India will be equal with seven points. At this stage, India have a superior run-rate.

Chasing 244, Chris Gayle helped West Indies to a flying start as they reached 50 for no loss in the fifth over. He was looking in a destructive form. England managed the breakthough, when Tredwell trapped Gayle (43, 21b, 4x8, 6x1)) leg before.

He then got the rid of Devon Smith (10). Skipper Darren Sammy played a solid knock of 41 ( 29b, 4x2, 6x3), but in the end it was not enough as the English spinners managed to keep their cool.

Earlier, electing to bat, England wasted a good start from Jonathan Trott and lost four key wickets in the middle overs, before recovering through a solid 44 from Luke Wright. It helped them post a competitive, if not a formidable, total.

Things seemed to be going right for England as Andrew Strauss and Matt Prior put on 48 runs for the opening wicket, before Prior (21) departed. He was followed by Strauss (31).

Trott looked in great touch as he made 38-ball 47 and England looked like posting a big total. But after he fell in the 22nd over, there was a mini-collapse in the middle-order and  England were reduced to 151 for six.

From there on, Wright, along with Tredwell, added 41 runs for the seventh wicket to help his side recover. After Wright departed, it was just a matter of time before West Indies bowled England out for 243. Tim Bresnan remained unbeaten on 20.

Devendra Bishoo, the Guyanese leg-spinner making his ODI debut, bowled superbly to claim 3 for 34 in his 10 overs. Andre Russell finished with a career-best figures of 4 for 49 as West Indies ensured England did not reach the 250-run mark. But in the end, even 243 was enough for the English side.

Match Scorecard