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Russell rocks England top order
Spinners James Tredwell and Graeme Swann showed tremendous composure and helped England beat the West Indies by 18 runs in their final Group B league match to keep their hopes of a quarter-final berth at the World Cup alive.
- Scorecard
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 while giving away only one run, as West Indies were dismissed for 225 in 44.4 overs.
Earlier, speedster Andre Russell (4-49) was the pick of the bowlers. He was well-supported by debutant leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (3-34) while pace spearhead Kemar Roach (2-34) chipped in with a couple of scalps.
England make positive start
Off to a steady start after opting to bat, England laid a solid platform with a 48-run stand for the opening wicket between captain Andrew Strauss and Matt Prior.
Being more fluent of the two, Prior scored run-a-ball 21 before Andre Russell bowled him out.
However, before the over was finished, new man Trott hit Russell for three boundaries from his first five balls to keep the momentum going.
Fluent Trott
Trott got off the mark with a flick through midwicket, before following it up by a short-arm pull and then a drive through the covers.
He added another three in a row -- two off rival captain Darren Sammy's over and one of Russell's over to smash 26 from only nine balls.
At the other end, having adopted a cautious approach, Strauss was going only for the occasional hits, which also included a pulled six over midwicket off Sammy.
With Strauss and Trott in the middle, things were looking absolutely under England's control before Russell stuck yet again to dismiss Strauss for 31.
Going for a pull, Strauss got a top edge that landed in Chris Gayle's hands, who took an excellent catch running back from short mid-wicket.
Bishoo spins a web around English batsmen
But just then young Bishoo was introduced into the attack, who not only put brakes on England's scoring rate but also claimed a couple of key wickets to push the English on the back foot.
With Ian Bell finding it difficult to score runs, dealing only in singles for the first 30 balls of his innings, the in-form Trott also lost the momentum and gave away his wicket to Bishoo to be caught by Gayle at midwicket.
After Trott's dismissal, Eoin Morgan and Bell found it harder to accelerate the innings. And eventually Bell, who got a 'life' on 21 when Devon Thomas dropped him off Kieron Pollard, was bowled by Roach for a pain-staking 27 off 48 balls.
In the very next over, Bishoo saw off Morgan (7) to be caught by Thomas, to leave England reeling at 134 for 5.
Wright stands tall
Even as Ravi Bopara (4) and James Tredwell (9) failed to steady the boat, Luke Wright applied himself well to take England past 200-run mark.
With all recognised batsmen back in the pavillion, Wright single-handedly consolidated the innings but Bishoo cut short his 57-ball 44 runs innings, studded with five fours.
Opting to take the Powerplay in 46th over, England scored a few useful runs courtesy Tim Bresnan (20 not out) and Graeme Swann (8) who got a few cheeky boundaries.
Tredwell does star turn
West Indies' chase got off to a rollicking start with Gayle wasting precious little time to assert himself.
Gayle hit Tim Bresnan for four boundaries in the third over, prompting Strauss to replace the bowler with Chris Tremlett who was also promptly taken off attack after the West Indian batsman hit him for three fours and a six in his first over.
Tredwell then intervened.
Sammy's vain fight
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 crry on with the slogging.
The West Indies skipper was finally played on when he ried a cut shot with very little room. An identical delivery
got Bopara his second wicket when glovesman Devon Thomas (10) 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.
Russell, Sarwan raise Windies hopes
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, as West Indies needed only 22 with four wickets but he trapped Russel leg before.
Swann chokes Windies
Swann, who bowled the 44th over, then removed danger man Sarwan and Kemar Roach (0) with 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.
Tredwell man of the match
Playing his first match of the tournament, Tredwell (4-48) wasn't afraid to flight the ball and also got appreciable turn.
He was deservedly named man of the match.
Group B is now open with hosts India needing a win to ensure safe passage into the last eight while West Indies will hope that South Africa comprehensively beat Bangladesh in order to ensure their entry into last eight.