T20 World Cup 2021: Match 14, England vs West Indies – Who Said What
England dismissed West Indies for just 55, before chasing the target down with 70 balls and six wickets to spare.
by Pratyay · AI Based Cricket Prediction · JoinEngland romped home to a net-run-rate boosting six-wicket win against their T20 World Cup nemesis West Indies in Dubai on October 23 to start their campaign on dominating note. 14 wickets fell in the game in 22.4 overs, with 111 runs being scored, which sums up how the game played. However, to think that track had that many demons would be erroneous, with West Indies batters unable to unfurl themselves the way they are so known for.
Records of all sorts galore, as Adil Rashid returned with figures of 2.2-0-2-4, the best for any England bowler in T20Is, being the chief destructor on the night when West Indies tumbled for 55, the second-lowest total in the format, and also third-lowest in a T20 World Cup. Only Chris Gayle, who scored run-a-ball 13 could muster a double-digit score. Moeen Ali and Tymal Mills picked a couple each, while Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan picked one each.
West Indies did manage to strike four times in the 8.2 overs that England used to gun the paltry target down, but could of course not avoid their net-run-rate to plummet to -3.970. England lost three wickets in the powerplay, with Jason Roy (11 off 20) being undone by Ravi Rampaul before Jonny Bairstow gave Akeal Hosein a return catch to go back for 9 off 6. Liam Livingstone was the last wicket to fall courtesy of a magnificent return catch by Hosein again after the run-out of Moeen Ali. Jos Buttler, with his 22-ball 24, held an end up and saw England home with a whopping 70 balls left in the bank.
Winning captain Eoin Morgan:
This is as good as it gets, to start a campaign is a credit to the bowling unit. I thought the wicket was a good one, but the bowling was spot-on, we took all our chances and deserved this win. He is someone who does the basics well (on Moeen), he finishes off matches for us, hasn’t bowled a lot or played in a lot of games, but we did have someone like Ben Stokes in the middle. Mo has put in a huge contribution to the team. He’s as good as he has ever been with the ball (on Tymal Mills), his ground fielding has improved a lot and he’s at his best at the moment, bowling wise. Some of our catching was superb, full credit to the coaching staff. We were thinking about the net run rate and so sent in guys who could have a go from ball one. But I’m sure that he’ll contribute to the team in the next few games (on Malan’s demotion).
Losing captain Kieron Pollard:
There’s not a lot to explain – it was an unacceptable performance, but we do need to take this on the chin and move on. It’s a matter of finding our straps, we have to find a way to get a fighting total on the board, today was a day where we couldn’t find that balance, but we need to forget this and move on. This is an international sport, such days happen, but we need to find a solution. We have played a lot of T20 cricket around the world, this is something we have all experienced, you’ll have to accept such days. Each game is important, we still have four games in the tournament and we’ll have to look forward. Got an opportunity due to the injury, things do happen for a reason, he (Hosein) has worked hard in domestic cricket, his attitude is fantastic, he has plenty of energy and that ‘s fantastic. I told the guys to give our best at the halfway stage.
Player of the Match Moeen Ali:
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.