England cruise to six-wicket win over West Indies in T20 World Cup

England cruise to six-wicket win over West Indies in their T20 World Cup opener after rolling over defending champions for just 55 runs

  • England bowl West Indies out for 55 runs in just 14.2 overs in Dubai
  • Jos Buttler finishes unbeaten on 24 as England chase down total in 8.2 overs
  • Adil Rashid claims four wickets as England thrash defending champions 
  • Chris Gayle only West Indian batter to reach double digit with 13 runs 

Eoin Morgan’s England signalled their title aspiration with a comfortable six-wicket victory against defending champions West Indies in their Twenty20 World Cup opener on Saturday.

Batting fireworks were expected in the repeat of the 2016 final between the sides but England made it a one-sided affair with their bowlers running amok at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Moeen Ali (2-17) wrecked the West Indies top order before Adil Rashid ran through rest of the line-up to skittle out the Caribbean side for a paltry 55 inside 15 overs.

Eoin Morgan (right) and Jos Buttler celebrate getting England over the line against the Windies

England, bidding to become the first side to hold the 20-overs and 50-overs World Cup titles at the same time, chased down the target in 8.2 overs to begin their Super 12 campaign in style.

Morgan’s men endured their own batting wobble in their chase losing four wickets in the process but their victory was never in doubt.

Earlier, wary of the evening dew that could make gripping the ball a challenge, Morgan opted to field and West Indies slumped to 37-5 inside eight overs with Moeen in the thick of things. 

Buttler finished unbeaten on 24 as England won their T20 World Cup opener in Dubai

The West Indies rattled through England’s top order but their total proved too small to defend

Stationed at mid-off, Moeen ran backwards chasing a skier from Evin Lewis and took a terrific running catch over his shoulder to draw first blood.

In the next over, Moeen, who bowled his four overs on the trot, had Lendl Simmons caught in the deep and the spinner returned to dismiss Shimron Hetmyer to jolt West Indies. 

The middle order did hardly any better as Tymal Mills dismissed Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran, while Chris Jordan removed Dwayne Bravo to further turn the screws. 

Adil Rashid (left) took four wickets in 2.2 overs as England bowled out the Windies for 55

Moeen Ali took two wickets, including that of Chris Gayle, as England dominated the Windies

Rashid then ran through the bottom half of the West Indies line-up, dismissing Kieron Pollard and Obed McCoy off successive deliveries.

Gayle’s 13 was the only double digit score in West Indies’ abject batting capitulation against England’s fiery attack.

Rashid sent down 14 deliveries, conceded only two runs and claimed four wickets in a terrific display of spin bowling. 




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