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Chennai: England hung on to their World Cup hopes by the skin of their teeth, beating West Indies by 18 runs in a game that see-sawed till the final wicket fell at the Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
A loss here would have knocked England out of the Cup, putting India, West Indies and Bangladesh in the quarterfinals along with South Africa who've already qualified with a game left against Bangladesh. With the win, England have moved up to seven points along with India.
As Group B stands, Bangladesh must now beat South Africa to remain in the Cup. If Bangladesh win, the India-West Indies game will become a knock-out match. If India lose, they will have to ensure a better net run-rate than England.
England spinners James Tredwell (4-48) and Graeme Swann (3-36) kept West Indies under check after Chris Gayle (43, 21b) provided an explosive start to the chase.
Tredwell's first spell yielded three wickets - Gayle, Devon Smith and Darren Bravo.
Under-fire West Indies captain Darren Sammy promoted himself to No. 3 today, hitting three sixes in a well-paced 41. It was later revealed that the batting promotion happened since Ramnaresh Sarwan was in the toilet when his turn to bat came. Sammy's move seemed like a good one till Ravi Bopara was introduced and Sammy and Devon Thomas both played on.
With Kieron Pollard perishing for 27, West Indies didn't seem to have any hopes but Andre Russell, who had bowled very well earlier in the day to take 4-49, made 49 runs to bring West Indies to the doorsteps of the quarterfinals.
The game took what seemed like a decisive twist in the 38th over when, second ball Russell swung Swann to wide long-on where Jonathan Trott slid to his right to take a catch desperately close to the rope.
TV replays suggested Trott's shirt or hat may have touched the rope but could not prove this explicitly. The benefit of doubt went to Russell, but he couldn't make this life count.
Russell's partnership with Ramnaresh Sarwan yielded 72 before Tredwell had him LBW in his final over. Swann's final over then provided the all-important wicket of Sarwan, caught at short-leg after a laborious 31 that had put his team back on the rails.
Earlier in the day, England struggled after a good start provided by the openers and Trott. They were 121-2 before a middle-order collapse was brought about by debutant leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (3-34).
From 151-6, Luke Wright (44) and Tim Bresnan (20) pushed England towards the 250-mark.
Every single one of England's game in the World Cup has ended in a nail-biter and if the trend is to continue, the quarterfinals will be a thrilling affair. But for now, all eyes are on India and Bangladesh.
Brief scores
England 243 (Trott 47, Russell 4-49, Bishoo 3-38)
West Indies 225 (Gayle 43, Tredwell 4-48, Swann 3-36)
Result England won by 18
MOM James Tredwell (England)
Points England 2, West Indies 0
