| 0.0 : It was a clinical display by England in the first T20I as they swept aside a powerful Windies side. Can they repeat the dose though? The bowling did well but the batting still poses questions for itself. Jonny Bairstow's return to form is a welcome news for them with the World Cup closing in. How will the home side respond? Hello and a warm welcome to the second of three T20Is between Windies and England, with today's match being played at Basseterre. |
| WEATHER - Overcast conditions welcome us to the island of St. Kitts. There is rain forecast for this game but hopefully, it is proved wrong. |
| PITCH REPORT - Daren Ganga has a look at the pitch and feels it is very hard and even, predictably good for batting. Another run-fest is on the cards, according to Ganga. |
| Time for the spin of the coin. Holder flips it, Heads is the call from Morgan but it has come down as a Tail. WINDIES WILL BOWL FIRST. |
| Jason Holder says that the team backs itself to chase down any score. Informs that Obed McCoy comes in for Oshane Thomas. Confidently says that the unit has put behind what happened the other day and is rearing to go out today. |
| Eoin Morgan says that he would have fielded first too, adding that toss is a massive advantage in these conditions. Now hopes that his team adapts well. Informs that the team is unchanged, with a win under its belt. Admits that his captaincy will be tested in conditions like these but says that one needs to be calm while dealing with such cases. |
| BREAKING NEWS - Just as soon as we had the toss, Ashley Nurse dislocated his finger while fielding practice. He has now been replaced by Devendra Bishoo. |
| The players make their way out to the middle. Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales will open for England. Sheldon Cottrell to start off proceedings for the Windies, with Hales to face. A lone slip in place. here we go... |
| 0.1 : S Cottrell to A Hales, Full and around middle, no swing, no seam movement, watchfully defended. |
| 0.2 : S Cottrell to A Hales, Full and around middle, flicked through square leg for a single. |
| 0.3 : S Cottrell to J Bairstow, That is a full toss around off, Bairstow clips it through mid on. Obed McCoy gets across to his right but dives and fumbles, allowing the ball through. Nicholas Pooran gets to it from short mid-wicket, throws the ball to the keeper who tries to affect a run out by parrying the ball onto the stumps but in vain. Three runs taken. |
| 0.4 : S Cottrell to A Hales, Outside off, short in length, Hales has a waft but misses. |
| 0.5 : S Cottrell to A Hales, Ball hits the batsman low on the pads. The batsmen have run through for a single. Leg bye given by the umpire. |
| 0.6 : S Cottrell to J Bairstow, Pitched outside leg, Jonny shoulders arms and it hit on the left thigh. |
| Jason Holder, the captain to share the new ball. |
| 1.1 : J Holder to A Hales, Short and outside off, slapped uppishly wide of point for a single. |
| 1.2 : J Holder to J Bairstow, EDGED, FOUR! Full and outside off, hint of away movement, Bairstow walks into the shot, looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge. It flies wide of first slip, into the third man fence. |
| 1.3 : J Holder to J Bairstow, A short ball, pulled straight to short fine leg. A meter either side of him... |
| 1.4 : J Holder to J Bairstow, Short and outside off, Jonny cuts it through point but the fielder there dives to his right to stop the ball cleanly. |
| 1.5 : J Holder to J Bairstow, FOUR! Bairstow will not miss out twice in the same over, will he? Ball number 3, short ball, fine leg up, pulled straight to short fine leg. Ball number 5, short in length, fine leg up, pulled over short fine leg for a boundary! |
| 1.6 : J Holder to J Bairstow, Played to the point region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. 10 from Holder's first. |
| 2.1 : S Cottrell to J Bairstow, OUT! In the air and taken! There comes the salute and off blow the bands! Bairstow departs cheaply today. A length ball outside off, Jonny looks to punch but the away angle gets a thick outside edge. It flies towards short third man where Devendra Bishoo dives to his right and takes a brilliant catch! Cottrell immediately makes his joy known with a salute. |
| 0.0 : Joe Root walks in at number 3, replacing Bairstow. |
| 2.2 : S Cottrell to Joe Root, Full and around middle, flicked straight to short mid-wicket. |
| 2.3 : S Cottrell to Joe Root, Played to the point region by the batsman. |
| 2.4 : S Cottrell to Joe Root, Slower ball, around off, watchfully pushed through the covers for a couple. |
| 2.5 : S Cottrell to Joe Root, Full and down the leg side, flicked straight to short fine leg. |
| 2.6 : S Cottrell to Joe Root, FOUR! MARVELLOUS! That is Joe Root at his best. Full and around off, Root drives this straight down the ground, bisecting mid on and mid off. |
| Little bit of spin in the Powerplay. Fabian Allen into the attack. |
| 3.1 : F Allen to A Hales, SIX! Effortless batting. Tossed up outside off, Hales gets leg side of the ball, leans into the shot and lofts it with finesse over extra cover! |
| 3.2 : F Allen to A Hales, OUT! Caught next ball! Allen has struck. On his very second delivery. Tossed up, outside off, Hales gets down on a knee and attempts a slog sweep but only manages a top edge. The ball goes high in the air and it is an easy jog for Carlos Brathwaite running backwards from square leg. In a bit of trouble are England. |
| Captain Eoin Morgan is in next, at number 4, replacing Hales. |
| 3.3 : F Allen to Joe Root, Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover. |
| 3.4 : F Allen to Joe Root, Around middle, worked through mid on for a single. |
| 3.5 : F Allen to E Morgan, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 3.6 : F Allen to E Morgan, Full and around off, heaved through mid-wicket for a run. |
| Carlos Brathwaite into the attack. |
| 4.1 : C Brathwaite to E Morgan, OUT! Another soft dismissal! Caught down the leg side! Carlos has struck gold first ball and he is flying. This is a bonus for the Windies. A length ball, down the leg side, Morgan looks to tuck it fine and does so, but cannot quite beat the diving keeper. Shai Hope dives to his right and takes a wonderful catch. |
| 0.0 : Joe Denly walks in at number 5, replacing his skipper. |
| 4.2 : C Brathwaite to Joe Denly, Almost another one! Full and outside off, Denly plays for it but the ball comes in a long way and beats the outside edge. |
| 4.3 : C Brathwaite to Joe Denly, The batsman has punched that ball through the off side. They pick up a single. |
| 4.4 : C Brathwaite to Joe Root, The batsman has punched that ball through the off side. One run added to the total. |
| 4.5 : C Brathwaite to Joe Denly, Outside off, pushed towards cover. |
| 4.6 : C Brathwaite to Joe Denly, Pushes this through mid on for one. |
| 5.1 : F Allen to Joe Denly, Landed around off, pushed straight to cover. |
| 5.2 : F Allen to Joe Denly, OUT! BOWLED! Dragged on! Oh dear... this is poor batting from England now. They have gone from bad to worse. 4th wicket down and the Powerplay is not done yet. Short and around middle, Denly goes back and looks to punch it through the off side but the ball spins away and bounces extra. Takes the inside edge and shatters the stumps. Second wicket for Allen and he is flying. |
| Sam Billings walks in at number 6, replacing Denly. |
| 5.3 : F Allen to Sam Billings, Full on middle, worked through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 5.4 : F Allen to Joe Root, Around middle, worked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 5.5 : F Allen to Sam Billings, LEADING EDGE, SAFE! Another nervous moment for England. Tossed up outside off, Billings comes down the track and looks to flick but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball. Gets a leading edge which just eludes cover. A run taken. |
| 5.6 : F Allen to Joe Root, FOUR! Nicely done. Full and down the leg side, Root gets down and sweeps it past short fine leg to the backward square leg fence! That is 39/4 in the Powerplay. |
| 6.1 : C Brathwaite to Sam Billings, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 6.2 : C Brathwaite to Sam Billings, That ball has struck the batsman on the thigh pad. They pick up a single. Leg bye signalled by the umpire. |
| 6.3 : C Brathwaite to Joe Root, A short ball, Root looks to pull but loses balance and somehow gets it off the inner half of the bat through square leg. A single taken. |
| 6.4 : C Brathwaite to Sam Billings, The batsman has punched that ball through the off side. They pick up a single. |
| 6.5 : C Brathwaite to Joe Root, Pushes this through mid on for a run. |
| 6.6 : C Brathwaite to Sam Billings, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 7.1 : F Allen to Sam Billings, Pitched around middle, grips the surface, comes on slowly, induces a leading edge as Billings is early into his flick shot. The ball goes towards long off and a single is taken. |
| 7.2 : F Allen to Sam Billings, Outside off, punched down to long off for a run. |
| 7.3 : F Allen to Joe Root, Short and outside off, turning away, punched through the covers for one. |
| 7.4 : F Allen to Joe Root, Full on middle, Sam flicks it through mid-wicket and takes the run. Root wants the second but is sent back. Has to dive in his crease. |
| 7.5 : F Allen to Sam Billings, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 7.6 : F Allen to Joe Root, Outside off, punched straight to short extra cover. |
| Devendra Bishoo, drafted into the playing XI, after the toss, is here to bowl. |
| 8.1 : D Bravo to Sam Billings, Full and around middle, pushed towards long on for a single. |
| 8.2 : D Bravo to Joe Root, Floated around off, driven uppishly, just wide of short extra cover, for a run. |
| 8.3 : D Bravo to Sam Billings, Jumps down the track does Billings and works it through mid-wicket for one. |
| 8.4 : D Bravo to Joe Root, Shorter in length, pulled to deep backward square leg for another single. |
| 8.5 : D Bravo to Sam Billings, Thrown up outside off, Joe reaches out and drives it towards long off for one more. |
| 8.6 : D Bravo to Joe Root, Goes back and works it to deep mid-wicket for another run. |
| 9.1 : F Allen to Joe Root, Tossed up outside off, Billings comes down the track and looks to drive inside out but gets a thick outside edge which does not carry to short third man. |
| 9.2 : F Allen to Sam Billings, Tossed up outside off, Billings comes down the track and looks to drive inside out but gets a thick outside edge which does not carry to short third man. |
| 9.3 : F Allen to Sam Billings, Short and outside off, punched through the covers for a single. |
| 9.4 : F Allen to Joe Root, IN THE AIR, DROPPED, FOUR! Excellent effort though. Full and around middle, Root comes down the track and looks to go aerial but does not quite time it well. Obed McCoy comes running in from long on to his left and dives but cannot quite hold on. The ball trickles into the ropes. |
| 9.5 : F Allen to Joe Root, Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 9.6 : F Allen to Sam Billings, Short and outside off, cut through point for a brace. |
| 10.1 : D Bishoo to Joe Root, Tossed up outside off, Root lunges to play the slog sweep but misses. |
| 10.2 : D Bishoo to Joe Root, Around off, worked through wide long on for a single. |
| 10.3 : D Bishoo to Sam Billings, FOUR! Lovely shot. Full and around middle, Billings jumps down the track and smashes it down the ground for a boundary! |
| 10.4 : D Bishoo to Sam Billings, Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 10.5 : D Bishoo to Joe Root, FOUR! That is a bad ball, short and down the leg side, Root pulls it over square leg for a boundary! |
| 10.6 : D Bishoo to Joe Root, Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total. 11 from the over. |
| Jason Holder is back on. 1-0-10-0 so far. |
| 11.1 : J Holder to Joe Root, Outside off, punched through the covers for a single. |
| 11.2 : J Holder to Sam Billings, A short ball, around off, Billings hops and defends. |
| 11.3 : J Holder to Sam Billings, Around off, solidly defended. |
| 11.4 : J Holder to Sam Billings, FOUR! Short and down the leg side, pulled through square leg for a boundary! |
| 11.5 : J Holder to Sam Billings, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 11.6 : J Holder to Sam Billings, Full and down the leg side, Billings gets a long way down the leg side but is cramped for room and is beaten. |
| Obed McCoy introduced. |
| 12.1 : O McCoy to Joe Root, Outside off, punched straight to cover. |
| 12.2 : O McCoy to Joe Root, IN THE AIR... SAFE! Full and around off, Root looks to go inside out but skews it off the outer half of the bat. Sheldon Cottrell runs back from cover, dives but cannot reach the ball. Two runs taken. |
| 12.3 : O McCoy to Joe Root, Full and around off, driven through mid off for a single. |
| Run out? Safe? Let us have a look. Sam Billings has dived in but could be in trouble... |
| 12.4 : O McCoy to Sam Billings, SAFE! By a hair's breadth. This would have been a spectacular run out had it been affected. Full and around middle, Billings flicks it through mid-wicket. He charges back for the second and dives full stretch. It is referred upstairs but replays show that he has just made it. |
| 12.5 : O McCoy to Sam Billings, The batsman opens the face of the bat and helps it to third man. They pick up a single. |
| 12.6 : O McCoy to Joe Root, Short and outside off, cut straight to point. |
| 13.1 : J Holder to Sam Billings, Edgy! Short in length and outside off, Billings moves back to slap it through the line but gets an outside edge down to third man. A single. |
| 13.2 : J Holder to Joe Root, Yet another short delivery by Jason Holder, this time Root pulls it across the line, in full control, all along the ground to deep square leg for a run. |
| 13.3 : J Holder to Sam Billings, Advances down the track to play a full ball across the line, it takes the inside edge and rolls off the pads to the off side. |
| 13.4 : J Holder to Sam Billings, FOUR! Finds the gap! Back of a length delivery on middle, Billings remains on the back foot and pulls it powerfully to the deep mid-wicket fence. |
| 13.5 : J Holder to Sam Billings, A full toss on off, Billings makes room and drives it to mid off where the fielder makes a diving stop. A single is stolen. |
| 13.6 : J Holder to Joe Root, Cheeky but he finds the fielder. Straighter in line and fuller in length, Root moves across the stumps with the paddle shot but finds short third man. A single to end an 8-run over. |
| 14.1 : O McCoy to Joe Root, FOUR! Deliberate. Well played, Joe. Just uses the angle of the left-arm seamer. It's around off on a shortish length, Root sits back and at the last moment just opens the face of his bat to run it wide of short third man. |
| 14.2 : O McCoy to Joe Root, FOUR! Another fantastic shot by Root. The length continues to be on the shorter side and this one is slower in pace too. Joe picks it early and then smashes it through the gap between backward point and short third man. 100 comes up for England! |
| 14.3 : O McCoy to Joe Root, On middle and leg, Root turns it in the gap at mid-wicket and takes a couple of runs. |
| 14.4 : O McCoy to Joe Root, FOUR! This is outstanding batting from the English Test skipper. No power, all timing and placement. Short and wide outside off, Root is on his toes as he cuts it through point for a boundary. Fifty for Joe, his 5th in T20Is, 2nd vs Windies! |
| 14.5 : O McCoy to Joe Root, Goes on the back foot and punches it down the ground. The long on fielder cuts it off and they take a run. |
| 14.6 : O McCoy to Sam Billings, A full toss on off, Billings walks across the stumps and sweeps it down towards long leg for a single. A big over for England, 16 from it! |
| Carlos Brathwaite is back on. 2-0-7-1 so far. |
| 15.1 : C Brathwaite to Sam Billings, A short ball, around off, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 15.2 : C Brathwaite to Joe Root, Full and around off, Root looks to flick but gets a leading edge towards cover. |
| 15.3 : C Brathwaite to Joe Root, A short ball, around off, Joe comes down the track and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 15.4 : C Brathwaite to Sam Billings, Excellent bowling. Brathwaite sees Billings walk across the stumps and bowls it wide outside off. Now Sam adjusts and steers it through point for one. |
| 15.5 : C Brathwaite to Joe Root, OUT! That is a superb piece of fielding! Full and around middle, Root comes down the track and works it wide of long on. Takes the single and calls for the second but Fabian Allen charges to his left, picks up the ball and returns a solid throw to the keeper who whips the bails off and then collides with Root. The third umpire is not even needed. Fine knock by Root on a tough pitch. |
| David Willey walks in at number 7, replacing Root. |
| 15.6 : C Brathwaite to D Willey, The batsman gets a bottom edge of the bat on that one. |
| Sheldon Cottrell returns. 2-0-11-1 so far. |
| 16.1 : S Cottrell to Sam Billings, FOUR! SLAP! Full and outside off, Billings gets down and slog sweeps it over square leg for a boundary! |
| 16.2 : S Cottrell to Sam Billings, A short ball, around off, pulled through square leg for a couple. |
| 16.3 : S Cottrell to Sam Billings, MISFIELD, FOUR! Poor from Shimron Hetmyer. A short ball, outside off, Billings pulls this through square leg. Hetmyer gets across and dives but the ball hits his hands and then rolls behind! |
| 16.4 : S Cottrell to Sam Billings, SIX! SLAUGHTERED! Insult to injury. A length ball outside off, Billings jumps down the track and pulls it over mid-wicket for a flat hit! 2nd T20I Fifty for Billings. |
| 16.5 : S Cottrell to Sam Billings, A long hop, swatted to deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 16.6 : S Cottrell to D Willey, The batsman has played it fine down the leg side. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| Jason Holder is back on. 3-0-23-0 so far. |
| 17.1 : J Holder to D Willey, Dot ball! Holder runs in from 'round the wicket and serves a full toss wide outside off. Willey flashes and misses. It's just inside the tramline and hence the umpire doesn't signal a wide. Tight call, that. |
| 17.2 : J Holder to D Willey, On one bounce to mid off! A full toss again by Holder, outside off, David smacks it through the line but fails to beat the infielder. A single taken. |
| 17.3 : J Holder to Sam Billings, Follows the batsman down the leg side with a short delivery, Billings pulls it in front of square leg for a run. |
| Run out appeal. Is David Willey short of the mark? |
| 17.4 : J Holder to D Willey, NOT OUT! Willey digs a yorker on the leg side and comes out of his crease in search of a run. Billings is not interested and sends him back immediately. David turns and stretches to get inside the line as Holder parries his throw to the keeper. Shai deflects it behind onto the stumps and they all appeal. It's taken upstairs and the replays find Willey safely in. |
| 17.5 : J Holder to D Willey, Drills a full ball through covers and rushes back for the second run. |
| 17.6 : J Holder to D Willey, A mishit this time by Willey. It balloons in the air and drops safely at deep cover. Another couple to end a fine over, just 6 from it. |
| Obed McCoy returns. 2-0-22-0 so far. Scratch that. The ball has been thrown to Carlos Brathwaite instead. 3-0-11-1 so far. |
| 18.1 : C Brathwaite to Sam Billings, FOUR! Innovative! Brathwaite tries to be away from the batsman and serves a full toss wide outside off, Billings shuffles well across the stumps and scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary. |
| 18.2 : C Brathwaite to Sam Billings, EDGY FOUR! No justice for the bowler. Carlos delivers it full and way wide outside off again. Billings this time chases it and inside edges it past the keeper for a boundary at fine leg. |
| 18.3 : C Brathwaite to Sam Billings, Two wides! This time Brathwaite slips a length ball down the leg side, Billings fails to flick and Shai also struggles in collecting it. They cross. |
| C Brathwaite to D Willey, Picks a shortish length ball from outside off and heaves it to deep square leg for a run. |
| 18.4 : C Brathwaite to Sam Billings, FOUR! Hammered away! Full toss wide outside off, Sam latches onto it and thwacks it over his partner's head at the other end for a boundary at long on. |
| 18.5 : C Brathwaite to Sam Billings, Bowls this one in the line of the stumps, Billings makes room for a big shot over the leg side but it takes the inside edge and runs down to fine leg for one. |
| 18.6 : C Brathwaite to D Willey, SIX! Big, big over for England. 22 runs coming from it! Brathwaite angles in a length ball on middle, Willey makes room and launches it straight down the ground for a maximum. |
| Obed McCoy to bowl the final over. Can England cross 175? |
| 19.1 : O McCoy to Sam Billings, SIX! High and handsome! A length delivery at this stage is criminal. A slower one in the line of the stumps, Billings hops back to make room and hoists it over the bowler's head. |
| Jason Holder has a chat with his bowler. Carlos Brathwaite and Shimron Hetmyer also join in. Also, it appears that the ball has lost its shape. The umpires are getting it changed. McCoy to bowl from 'round the wicket now... |
| 19.2 : O McCoy to Sam Billings, FOUR! A nothing delivery, short and around off, Billings brings out the reverse-batted shot and pulls it down to fine leg for a boundary. |
| Deep square leg comes in. |
| 19.3 : O McCoy to Sam Billings, DROPPED BY HETMYER! McCoy speeds in from 'round the wicket and angles in a length ball on middle, Billings clears his front leg for a big heave over the leg side. But it takes the top edge and balloons towards mid off. Shimron circles underneath it but fails to hold on. Two more added to the total. |
| 19.4 : O McCoy to Sam Billings, SIX! Billings will punish you! Obed dishes out a length delivery on middle, Billings makes room for the swing of his shot and nails it over long off. Carlos Brathwaite near the fence jumps to take the catch but goes beyond the rope and the ball bursts out of his hands as well. |
| 19.5 : O McCoy to Sam Billings, FOUR! Attempts a slower bouncer but the line is very straight and there is no protection in the deep on the leg side. Sam gets on top of the bounce and hammer-pulls it to the deep mid-wicket fence. |
| 19.6 : O McCoy to Sam Billings, OUT! A wicket at last for McCoy but the damage has already been done. Yet another 22-run over and England have got a big finish here, ending on 182/6! Obed gets a wicket this time by delivering a shortish ball on middle and leg. Billings shapes up for a big heave-ho over the leg side but it takes a fat outside edge and goes into the gloves of Shai Hope. Poor Obed, should have never bowled the last. Anyway, a good learning for him. |
| 44 runs in the last 2 overs. Wow. England have rocketed to 182. When, at one stage, they were not even looking to touch 150. |
| Without a doubt, the Windies would be fuming with themselves. They had England on the ropes at 39/4 in the Powerplay but then let it slip with some poor fielding and bowling. Root and Billings' 82-run stand for the 5th wicket set things up and then a dramatic pushover by the latter saw the visitors catapult towards 200. |
| Should Obed McCoy have bowled that final over? NO, if you ask us. With Cottrell still having one over left, it was either a miscalculation from Holder or too big a gamble from him. The poor kid went for 44 in his 3 overs with a solitary wicket on his last ball. Earlier, Fabian Allen and Jason Holder, along with Carlos Brathwaite, kept things tight in the middle but the death overs were hammered. The last 6 overs went for 88 runs. OUCH. |
| History says that more than 60 percent of the games over here are won chasing. Can the home side chase down 183? Stay tuned for the run chase... |
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