SOUTHAMPTON – West Indies’ highly touted batting line-up flattered to deceive, suffering a now familiar collapse, tumbling to a heavy 114-run defeat in the opening One-Day International against England yesterday.
Chasing a challenging but not impossible revised target of 287 off 48 overs following a rain break, the Windies were bundled out for 172 off 33.4 overs to fall behind in the three-match series.
Resurgent Dwayne Smith stroked a breathtaking 56 off 44 balls at the top of the order but once he was out in the 16th over at 95 for one, the Caribbean side miserably lost their last nine wickets for 77 runs.
The in-form Marlon Samuels hit a run-a-ball 30 and Denesh Ramdin got 22 but barrel-chested seamer Tim Bresnan bowled with accuracy to take four for 34 and demolish the Windies middle order.
Off-spinner Graeme Swann (2-21) and swing bowler Jimmy Anderson (2-48) supported with two wickets apiece.
Stylish Ian Bell had earlier stroked his second One-Day century, a sublime 126 off 117 balls, to propel England up to 288 for six after they were sent in at the Rose Bowl.
Gash on chin
Bell, who was in doubt for the game after a gash to his chin during training on Friday required ten stitches, defied the injury to hammer 12 fours and a six and hold England together following the loss of captain Alistair Cook in the first over of the day without a run on the board.
He put on 108 for the second wicket with Jonathan Trott (42) and a further 51 for the fourth wicket with Eoin Morgan (21).
Stuart Broad stroked an unbeaten 22 off just 15 balls to inspire a cameo unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 43 off 34 balls with Craig Kieswetter, who got an unbeaten 38 from 39 balls.
Part-time off-spinner Samuels was the best West Indies bowler with two for 43.
With prized opener Chris Gayle ruled out with injury, Smith and Lendl Simmons gave the Windies a bright start, adding 25 for the first wicket with little alarm.
In his first international in seven months after recovering from finger surgery, Simmons emerged from a watchful start to clip Anderson for leg-side boundaries in the fifth over but was bowled with the fifth delivery, playing on for 24 as he attempted a forcing back foot shot.
Centre stage
Smith then took centre stage, dominating an entertaining 70-run, second wicket stand off 65 balls with Ramdin and putting West Indies in command.
The right-hander, playing his first ODI in over two years, cracked six fours and two sixes and raised his half-century off 38 balls.
He took a liking to lanky pacer Steven Finn, punching two thunderous off-side boundaries and a whip over square leg for six in the sixth over of the innings that cost 14 runs.
Smith brought up his 50 in style with another whipped six over square leg, this time off seamer Broad as West Indies upped the tempo.
With the stage nicely set for a big score, Smith fell to a soft dismissal, feathering a pull at an innocuous short delivery from Bresnan through to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.
Things then fell apart quickly as Ramdin was plumb lbw to Bresnan ten balls later with seven runs added, after dithering an hour and 38 balls without finding the boundary.
Finn trapped Dwayne Bravo in front for eight in the 19th over at 118 for four and the dangerous Kieron Pollard was brilliantly taken by a diving Eoin Morgan at point off Broad in the 23rd over for three.
Rain halted play for an hour and ten minutes with the Windies struggling on 127 for five but there was no change in fortunes on resumption.
Samuels took boundaries in successive overs from Anderson and Broad immediately after the break but tamely chipped the first ball of the third over from Anderson to short mid-wicket where Swann held the simplest of catches.
Captain Darren Sammy (11) got one from Swann that bounced and scooped a catch to cover at 155 for seven in the 29th over and two runs later in the next over, Andre Russell was taken at point by Morgan, stabbing at a delivery from Bresnan that also bounced.
Darren Bravo, struggling with a groin injury, batted at number nine but could do little as the last wickets fell in quick time. (CMC)
