GROS ISLET – Nicholas Pooran’s career-best half-century was overshadowed by a shoddy West Indies fielding effort yesterday, as England breezed to a four-wicket win in the opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series.
Defending 161 at the Daren Sammy Stadium after Pooran slammed a top score of 58, the hosts grassed four chances and England capitalised to reach their target with seven deliveries remaining.
Man Of The Match Jonny Bairstow stroked 68 off 40 deliveries while Joe Denly chipped in with 30 off 29 balls, as the visitors took a big stride towards their first series win of an otherwise disappointing tour.
Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, who finished with three for 29, created some late drama when he bowled Sam Billings at the start of the penultimate over for 18 but the pair of Tom Curran and David Willey easily got the remaining seven runs for victory.
Sent in earlier, West Indies were spearheaded to their 160 for eight by Pooran’s entertaining knock while another left-hander, Darren Bravo, stroked 30.
Seamer Curran produced career-best figures when he picked up four for 36 while Barbadian-born medium pacer Chris Jordan was brilliant in taking two for 16 from three overs.
West Indies needed the efforts of Pooran and Bravo to pull them out of a hole, after they lost the first three with 37 on the board by the end of the fifth over (CMC)
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