GROS ISLET, St. Lucia, 3 May 2004 — Dwayne Bravo lofted Darren Gough over long-off for six to wrap up a five-wicket victory for West Indies in the fifth One-Day International cricket match against England on Saturday.
Consistent batting right down the order helped West Indies to successfully chase a target of 282 and achieve victory with 12 balls to spare to level the rain-hit seven-match series 1-1.
Vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan led the way with undefeated 73 that included four fours and two sixes from 77 balls and earned him the man-of-the-match award.
Marcus Trescothick had hit his seventh One-Day International hundred, 130 that contained 13 fours and two sixes from 138 balls, and shared a century fourth-wicket stand with Andrew Flintoff to lift England to 281 for eight from their full allotment of 50 overs.
Sarwan and Dwayne Smith, however, transformed the complexion of the match in a spell of sensational batting that brought the capacity, holiday crowd to its feet and brought West Indies within reach of the magic number.
The pair added 80 from 52 balls after Sarwan and captain Brian Lara put West Indies back on course with a stand of 76 for the fourth wicket.
After Sarwan clobbered a couple meaty sixes off left-arm slow bowler Ian Blackwell in the 44th over that cost 17 runs, Smith set upon the England pace attack and smote two fours and four sixes in 44 from 28 balls.
When he departed, bowled by fourth ball of the 47th over by Flintoff, West Indies were 11 runs away from their destination and duly completed the journey to condemn Michael Vaughan’s side to their first defeat in any kind of match on this visit to the Caribbean.
Left-handers Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul had given West Indies early momentum with an opening stand of 62. But the home team wobbled to 115 for three in the 24th over, after James Anderson took two wickets that would make him England’s most successful bowler.
Gayle was caught at point off Anderson for 36 from 42 balls in the 12th over, Ricardo Powell was bowled by Anderson for 29 in the 21st over, and Chanderpaul was caught behind off Anderson for 40 b before Lara and Sarwan staged a recovery.
Earlier, Trescothick added 110 with Flintoff, after earlier dominating stands of 41 with captain and fellow opener Michael Vaughan and 51 with fellow left-hander Andrew Strauss.
Flintoff scored 59 that included two fours and two sixes from 69 balls and England lost their momentum once he and Trescothick were separated in the 43rd over.
Dwayne Bravo and ODI newcomer Ian Bradshaw were West Indies’ most successful bowlers with two wickets apiece.
Global Cricket Experts to Discuss Asian Development
In Karachi, top experts from around the world will meet next week to discuss cricket development in Asia, officials said yesterday.
Former West Indies great Clive Lloyd and ex-Australian star Greg Chappell will be among the guest speakers at the Asian Cricket Council’s May 9-10 seminar.
International Cricket Council President Ehsan Mani and Chief Executive Malcolm Speed will also join the discussions, said ACC development manager Zakir Hussain Syed.
“The seminar will provide a platform for improved synchronization between Asia and global development program initiatives and give us an opportunity to share ideas and recommendations for development of the game,” said Syed.
“Workshops will discuss Asia’s specific development needs, global needs, cricket education, high performance programs, development of umpires, grounds, pitches, physical fitness, media relations and cricket facilities,” he added.
