Welcome to Sportstar 's coverage of the T20 World Cup 2021 Super 12 match between England and West Indies at the Dubai International Stadium.
All done and dusted in Dubai tonight. But a spectacle like no other beckons in under 24 hours at the venue. It's
India vs Pakistan - the mother of all battles on Super Sunday.
Join us for more action then and keep yourself tuned in with this read ahead of the game:
Eoin Morgan : It's as good as it gets. To start our campaign like that, all credit to our bowling unit. The guys were very disciplined, and we took our chances. I think Moeen Ali read the conditions beautifully, he took chances when his match-up was in his favour, and to take his opportunity like he has, after the success he's had in the IPL was brilliant. I'm delighted for Big T. He's had an unfortunate journey at times, but he's now as good as I've ever seen him, especially with his fitness. We were [thinking of NRR, and held back Malan], we wanted guys to go after the bowling, but that was difficult today on that pitch."
Kieron Pollard : "It was unacceptable, we accept that. These sorts of games sometimes, we just need to bin it. For us, it's just a matter of finding our straps. We haven't batted well in our three games so far. We went out, guys tried to play their shots, and it didn't come off. I don't think any sort of panic will come into our camp. It is what it is, we just need to take it on our chest and move on, this is international sport. Obviously, we play a lot of cricket around the world, and this is not the first time something like this has happened. We've played cricket around the world, and we have the experience of games like this. Getting an opportunity because of the injury to Fabian Allen. Everything happens for a reason, and Akeal Hosein showed us what he can do."
Moeen Ali | Player of the Match: It was always nice to catch one like that, I saw CJ running and thought about leaving it to him as he's so fast and great in the field, but then it was on my side and I stuck my hands out. It gives you confidence, my first over was nice until that six, but yes it does give you confidence. It helps with so many left handers in their team, but I have been bowling alright in the nets, quite confident and as I have been playing cricket, I was not that nervous. The role in that team (CSK) is really good for me, I felt comfortable and involved with both bat and ball, it is great to be playing those big games like the semifinals and finals and then coming to the World Cup.
ENG 56/4 in 8.2 overs: Buttler pulls and does it handsomely for FOUR. England inflict a massive defeat for West Indies. Buttler and Morgan embrace in joy. And they are underway in the Super 12s!
ENG 50/4 in 8 overs:
McCoy fends short and Morgan pulls to beat the mid-wicket by a few inches for
FOUR. They are nearly through. Five away from a massive win.
ENG 43/4 in 7 overs: Akeal to Livingstone. OUT! Leading edge in the air and a sensational clincher from Akeal Hosein! The arm-ball is rolled in once again and Livingstone attempts to work the ball through the on-side. The leading edge zips past Hosein who flies behind the ball and latches onto it with a full-length one-handed dive to his left. Wow. But, hold on. The umpires aren't convinced yet of a clean catch and goes up for a referral. Livingstone has to go as the third umpire deems him out. Morgan at 6. He's off the mark with a single down the ground. Liam Livingstone c & b Hosein 1 (2b)
ENG 39/3 in 6 overs: McCoy to Buttler. Run out chance at the non-striker's and Moeen's on his way! Miscommunication between Buttler and Moeen. Buttler tucks the slower one to short third but Moeen sets off on a quick single. Buttler was least bothered for a run there. An excellent throw from Lewis there and McCoy does the rest. The replays suggest Moeen has to depart. Moeen Ali run out (Lewis/McCoy) 3 (4b)
Obed McCoy into the attack
ENG 34/2 in 5 overs: Hosein to Bairstow. OUT! Straight back to the bowler! Hosein dives forward to complete a fine catch. The arm-ball foxes Bairstow as his intended push goes down the wrong line. Moeen in at 4. He gets off the mark with a single. Jonny Bairstow c & b Hosein 9 (6b 2x4)
ENG 30/1 in 4 overs: Rampaul to Roy. OUT! Lobs straight to Gayle at short mid-wicket! The ball hits the length and skims low to Roy who pushes at it in two-minds. Bairstow in at 3. Rampaul greets him with a couple of more cheeky slower ones. Rampaul goes full and this time Bairstow drills it on down the ground for FOUR. Rampaul loses his line and gives room to Bairstow, this time he slams it through covers for another FOUR.
ENG 21/0 in 3 overs: Hosein floats the ball wide and Roy waltzes him over cover for SIX! Some strike that from Roy as he makes just enough room to swing his arms. Hosein keeps it tight on the wickets and the batters churn in a few singles to finish.
ENG 10/0 in 2 overs: Rampaul keeps Buttler in his tracks with nippy deliveries off the deck outside off. Rampaul fends a bit too short and Buttler slams it over point for FOUR.
Ravi Rampaul into the attack. His first game for West Indies in six years!
ENG 5/0 in 1 over: Hosein starts with an arm ball to Roy. He pushes it to cover. Hosein strays to the pads and Roy pushes it down the ground for a single. A loose delivery outside off to Buttler and he lofts it over cover for FOUR. Hosein slides in another arm-ball to finish.
Akeal Hosein with the new ball. Short leg in place for Roy, and it's the captain Pollard himself who's standing close-in!
Back for the chase. Roy and Buttler at the crease for England.
It's been a crazy hour of cricket in Dubai. West Indies' attempt to unleash its 'fearless' brand of cricket fell flat against the diligent planning of captain Morgan. With a potent bowling line-up that's built to hit the frailties of the big Caribbean men, England steam-rolled through West Indies with ease. None of the batters 'applied' themselves in the middle, so to speak. And in competitive pitches like the one we have on offer, you cannot break free with a one-dimensional approach. England will seem to cash in a big win and boost its NRR to pick an early head-start in Group 1.
WI 55 all out in 14.2 overs: Rashid cleans 'em up! All over for the Windies! West Indies has slipped up big time in its Super 12 opener and it's owed more to its shoddy batting than the brilliance of the opposition. West Indies registers its lowest WC total - the third-lowest ever in the tournament.
Economy rate of 0.85 - Adil Rashid bowls the joint second-best economical spell in the T20WC!
WI 55/9 in 14 overs: Rampaul and Hossein nudge about the inner-circle and finds five singles in the air. Eventless over to say the least.
WI 50/9 in 13 overs: Rashid to Pollard. OUT! IN THE AIR and taken at long-on! Misery, misery. Tosses it up and Pollard goes for his customary slog. Not to be this time as he mistimes it with a bottom-edge. McCoy the new man. There goes another! Rashid has 2 IN 2! Windies are determined to commit hara-kiri tonight. McCoy goes for the shot over mid-on and holes out straight to the deep.
Obed McCoy c Roy b Adil Rashid 0(1); Pollard c Bairstow b Adil Rashid 6(14)
WI 49/7 in 12 overs: Pollard's deep chat with his young club mate has ensured Hossein has seen off one over. Mills continues to unleash his trickery with the slower ones as the batters tread in singles.
WI 45/7 in 11 overs: Rashid to Russell. OUT! Rashid starts with a jaffa, cleans up Russell! Darts in a simple straight delivery that skips through the line. Russell leans forward to push but plays down the wrong line. The ball kisses the middle-stump and West Indies continues its tumble down the barrel. Andre Russell b Rashid 0 (2b)
Adil Rashid into the attack.
WI 44/6 in 10 overs: Jordan troubles Pollard with some sharp deliveries angling into him. Pollard fails to get his timing right and hands five straight dot balls.
WI 42/6 in 9 overs: Mills to Pooran. OUT! Edged and gone! Mills follows up a string of slower balls down leg with a fiery fuller delivery outside the off-stump. Pooran aims for an ambitious drive and ends up serving his outside edge. An easy take for Buttler and Windies continue to crumble. This is an endless line-up, folks. Russell walks in to join Pollard. Pooran c Buttler b Tymal Mills 1(9)
Mills from the other end
WI 38/5 in 8 overs: Jordan to Bravo. OUT! Straight to backward point! Goodness me, Windies! What are you upto? That's a fierce stroke easily gobbled up by Bairstow in the inner-circle. Bravo cannot believe his luck, as would be the case in the dressing-room. Dwayne Bravo c Bairstow b Jordan 5 (5b 1x4)
Jordan replaces Mills
WI 33/4 in 7 overs: A sensational spell from Moeen! Bravo and Pooran are happy to nudge along the ground and find a couple of singles. Moeen keeps a fine line of attack and finishes his spell with figures of 4-1-17-2!
WI 31/4 in 6 overs: Mills to Gayle. OUT! The fiery short ball does the damage! Gayle endures a barrage of nagging bouncers throughout the over and Mills gets the perfect line off the final ball. Hits the deck, springs sharply to Gayle's shoulders as he eyes the deep mid-wicket fence. The ball clips the top-edge and lobs up straight to Malan at mid-wicket. Chris Gayle c Malan b Mills 13 (13b 3x4)
Tymal Mills into the attack
WI 27/3 in 5 overs: Moeen to Hetmyer. OUT! A flurry of boundaries and GONE! Moeen slides the ball in from around the stumps on the good length. Hetmyer fails to beat the mid-on fielder this time around as he gets a fraction late on the pull. This is a horrendous start for the defending champs in the Powerplay. Bravo in at 5. We have two players in the middle who are playing their seventh T20I World Cup! Shimron Hetmyer c Morgan b Ali 9 (9b 2x4)
WI 19/2 in 4 overs: Universe Boss is underway! Woakes goes full and Gayle caresses the ball for FOUR through covers, a rarity! Just a deft push and the ball beats the cover fielder to the fence. Woakes goes back of a length and this time Gayle crunches the ball through point for another FOUR! This is vintage stuff from the big man.
WI 9/2 in 3 overs: Moeen to Simmons. OUT! Slaps straight to the man at midwicket! Simmons advances and Moeen keeps it short to the legs. Simmons goes for the fancy heave to the on-side and finds the man on the fence. What a start this is for England. Hetmyer joins Gayle. Moeen continues to bowl in fine channels and ends up with a wicket-maiden! Lendl Simmons c Livingstone b Ali 3 (7b)
WI 9/2 in 2 overs: Woakes to Lewis. OUT! High into the night sky and Moeen Ali completes a fine catch! Woakesy is back and he walks straight into the wickets column. He rolls in the perfect slower ball right in the slot for Lewis to swing down the ground. Lewis misreads the pace and mistimes the slog. The ball sails past mid-off and Moeen runs back to seize the ball without losing his balance. Gayle in at 3. Evin Lewis c Ali b Woakes 6 (5b 1x6)
Chris Woakes from the opposite end
WI 7/0 in 1 over: Moeen loops the ball into Simmons who presents a neat forward push. Moeen bowls short and Simmons nudges it to the on-side and gets off strike. Moeen keeps Lewis tight on the crease before he swings the ball through the arc down for SIX to finish the over!
Moeen Ali with the new ball. Simmons on strike, here we go!
Game on in Dubai! Morgan's men take the field after a huddle. Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis walk out for West Indies. The players from both sides take a knee before the first ball.
All set for action. Time for the national anthems and the players line-up on the field.
England (Playing XI): Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (wk), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills
West Indies (Playing XI): Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard(c), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Obed McCoy, Ravi Rampaul
Pitch Report: I have seen a lot of this surface. This has offered the seamers a lot more than any other surface but that does not mean the spinners have nothing to offer. There is less green grass and the dry grass might make it two paced. There will be a lot of cutters and the dew will come into play.
Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi....
Australia scrape through in the last over to beat South Africa -
HIGHLIGHTS
6:45PM IST: All eyes on the big toss as the 2016 finalists meet. Will Dre Russ return for WI? Will ENG drop the world no.1 batter, Dawid Malan. We will find that out in 15 minutes. Meanwhile in Dubai....
NUMBERS GAME
5:40PM IST:
Who will emerge victorious in the battle of the big hitters? Roy certainly seems ready.
MATCH PREVIEW
Five-and-a-half years after Carlos Brathwaite hit four successive sixes off Ben Stokes' bowling to win the World Twenty20 final for West Indies, the defending champion will renew its T20 World Cup rivalry with England in Dubai on Saturday.
However, both men involved in that epoch-defining over at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata are missing here. Stokes continues to take an indefinite break while Brathwaite wasn't added to the World Cup squad. There are more notable absentees in Jofra Archer and Sunil Narine.
READ:
It is against this backdrop of missing names that a wide palette of power-hitters from both sides will try to outmuscle each other. As impressive as Eoin Morgan’s captaincy has been, England will need him to contribute with runs. How Moeen Ali is used could be crucial. He can bat at No. 3 in place of Dawid Malan, whose form in the warm-ups — a run-a-ball 18 and 11 from 15 — didn't inspire confidence.
READ:
In Mark Wood and Tymal Mills, England's bowling attack has the extra pace that could provide an edge. Chris Jordan is an able death-overs specialist. But England has just one frontline spinner in Adil Rashid; Moeen and Livingstone as backups make it a spin-heavy line-up.
For West Indies, the spin attack is weaker for Narine's absence. Fabian Allen was ruled out of the World Cup due to an ankle injury. Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein replaced him. Hayden Walsh, who was outstanding against Australia in July, is the wrist-spinning option. They have three good quicks in Obed McCoy, Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul. Roston Chase was rewarded for a great CPL with the bat. His off-spin will be useful against England, a side with at least two left-handers in the top six.
West Indies' batting order has enviable depth, with Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Chris Gayle — his lean patch is a worry — headlining it. Nicholas Pooran, Evin Lewis and Bravo add more heft.
The dimension of the ground will also play a factor. The pitches on the edge of the square have smaller boundaries on one side. Both sides will try to exploit it with a right-left combination should those surfaces be used.
It's a battle between a side tailor-made for the shortest format, and one that has revolutionised its limited-overs cricket. But on Saturday, the team that adapts better and faster will win.
- Ayan Acharya
Stars of the fixture (overall)
PREDICTED XI
West Indies: Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Roston Chase, Kieron Pollard (c), Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Hayden Walsh, Ravi Rampaul, Obed McCoy
England: Jos Buttler (wk), Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills, Mark Wood
ENG vs WI DREAM11 FANTASY TEAM
Keeper – Jos Buttler (C), Jonny Bairstow
Batsmen – Evin Lewis, Jason Roy, Lendl Simmons
All-rounders – Andre Russell (VC), Moeen Ali, Kieron Pollard
Bowlers – Adil Rashid, Hayden Walsh, Chris Woakes
SQUADS:
England Squad: Jason Roy, Jos Buttler(w), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Eoin Morgan(c), Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Tymal Mills, David Willey, Dawid Malan, Sam Billings, Tom Curran
West Indies Squad: Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard(c), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Hayden Walsh, Obed McCoy, Ravi Rampaul, Oshane Thomas, Akeal Hosein, Roston Chase, Andre Fletcher
Reserves: George Linde, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lizaad Williams
When and where to watch T20 World Cup 2021 - Australia vs South Africa live?
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