CHENNAI, March 17 (PTI): England spinners James Tredwell and Graeme Swann showed tremendous composure to keep England�s hopes of a quarterfinal alive berth beating West Indies by 18 runs in their final group B league encounter of the World Cup here today.
Defending a decent total of 243 on a slow turner at the Chepauk, Tredwell (4/48) and Swann (3/35) bowled magnificently to take three of the last four wickets giving away only one run as West Indies were all-out for 225 in 44.4 overs.
Andre Russell who had a fantastic match (49, 46 balls, 2x4, 3x6 and four for 49) added 72 runs for the seventh wicket with Ramnaresh Sarwan (31) raising visions of victory after the former champions were tottering at 150 for six.
However, Tredwell (4/49) playing his first match of the tournament came on for his final and the 42nd over, West Indies needed only 22 with four wickets but he trapped Russel leg before.
Swann who bowled the 44th over then removed dangerman Sarwan and Kemar Roach (0) in his first and third deliveries before Suleiman Benn was run-out in the next over going for a non-existent second run to keep England in the hunt for a last eight berth.
The group B is now open with hosts India needing a win to ensure safe passage into the last eight while West Indies will be hoping that South Africa comprehensively beat Bangladesh in order to ensure their entry into last eight.
It was match where all West Indian batsmen got starts but were dismissed after getting set. Save Sarwan everyone played their share of big shots before perishing due to the slow and turning nature of pitch. Chris Gayle started in whirlwind fashion smacking anything that was in his zone. In Chris Tremlett�s first over he hit the lanky fast bowler for three boundaries and a six.
Gayle raced his way to 43 off only 21 balls with the help of eight fours and a six.
Along with Devon Smith (10, 27 balls), he added 58 runs in only 6.4 overs before he padded a straighter one from off-break bowler James Tredwell and was adjudged leg before.
Playing his first match of the tournament, Tredwell wasn�t afraid to flight the ball and also got appreciable turn. His second victim was Smith who missed a fuller delivery and Prior effected a stumping on second attempt. Darren Bravo (5) was dismissed when he edged a classical off-break to rival captain Strauss stationed in the slips.
Skipper Darren Sammy (41, 29 balls, 2x4, 3x6) promoted himself at No. 3 as a pinch-hitter in order to maintain the momentum set by Gayle. He was partially successful as he hit Tredwell for couple of huge sixes. But on a pitch where the odd ball was skidding and some stopping, it was difficult to carry on with the slogging.
The West Indies skipper was finally played on when he tried a cut shot with very little room. An identical delivery got Bopara his second wicket when glovesman Devon Thomas (10) was played on. At 118 for five, West Indies were staring down the barrel when Kieron Pollard (24, 27 balls, 1x4, 2x6) and Sarwan got together. Pollard hit Swann and Bopara for a six each. In between he got reprieve when he miscued trying to hit over mid-wicket but the resultant catch was dropped by Bopara running backwards. Pollard failed to cash in as Swann�s off-break found him plumb in-front. At 150 for six, it was Russel who joined Sarwan.
Earlier, useful knocks from Jonathan Trott (47) and Luke Wright (44) helped England post a competitive total of 243 in 48.4 overs. Trott�s solidity and Wright�s rearguard action helped England set a target which the Caribbean batsmen might find difficult to chase on a slow track.
Speedster Russell (4-49) was the pick of the bowlers and was well supported by debutant leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (3-34).
SCORECARD
ENGLAND
Strauss c Gayle b Russell 31
Prior b Russell 21
Trott c Gayle b Bishoo 47
Bell b Roach 27
Morgan c Thomas b Bishoo 7
Bopara b Russell 4
Wright c Russell b Bishoo 44
Tredwell run out 9
Bresnan not out 20
Swann b Russell 8
Tremlett c Thomas b Roach 3
Extras: (B-1, LB-4, W-15, NB-2) 22
Total: (all out in 48.4 overs) 243
Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-79, 3-121, 4-134, 5-134, 6-151, 7-192, 8-216, 9-238.
Bowling: K Roach 9.4-2-34-2, S Benn 10-0-56-0, A Russell 8-0-49-4, D Sammy 3-0-28-0, D Bishoo 10-0-34-3, K Pollard 8-0-37-0.
West Indies
Smith st Prior b Tredwell 10
Gayle lbw b Tredwell 43
Sammy b Bopara 41
D Bravo c Strauss b Tredwell 5
Thomas b Bopara 10
Sarwan c Bell b Swann 31
Pollard lbw b Swann 24
Russell lbw b Tredwell 49
Benn run out 2
Roach c Tremlett b Swann 0
Bishoo not out 0
Extras: (lb 7, w 3) 10
Total: (10 wickets; 44.4 overs) 225
Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-67, 3-91, 4-113,
5-118, 6-150, 7-222, 8-223, 9-223, 10-225.
Bowling: Bresnan 7-1-47-0, Swann 10-1-36-3, Tremlett 5-0-47-0, Tredwell 10-2-48-4, Bopara 8.4-2-22-2, Wright 4-0-18-0.
