Chris Gayle (39 off 19) and Dwayne Smith’s (35 off 25) 77-run opening wicket partnership, which led West Indies Masters to 179/6, set up their side’s eight-run victory over England Masters at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
Winning the toss and opting to bowl, England Masters struggled to contain the opening onslaught that got West Indies 69 runs in the PowerPlay.
But England Masters wrested the control when Chris Schofield accounted for both openers in the space of three deliveries. Kirk Edwards and Chadwick Walton could add just nine runs each and fell to Monty Panesar, resulting in their side losing four wickets for 24 runs in five overs.
Narsingh Deonarine’s 35 off 23 deliveries, which included three sixes, combined with Ashley Nurse’s 13-ball 29 and ensured West Indies Masters was not left to rue a collapse.
In reply, England Masters lost Ian Bell for just one run in the second over. Eoin Morgan gave company to Phil Mustard in taking on the bowlers early on. However, Ravi Rampaul had Mustard caught behind on 35 off the last ball of the fifth over. He got Morgan in the seventh over, leaving England Masters at 61/3.
The spin duo of Sulaiman Benn and Nurse strangulated England Masters through the middle overs and also chipped in with two wickets apiece. Schofield and Chris Tremlett prolonged England Masters’ fight but merely delayed the inevitable.
Stuart Meaker struck 24 off just 10 deliveries but even his cameo was not enough to get the 18 runs England needed off the final over.
Brief Score
West Indies Masters 179/6 (Chris Gayle 39, Dwayne Smith 35, Deonarine 35; Monty Panesar 3/14) beat England Masters 171/8 (Phil Mustard 35, Chris Schofield 32; Sulieman Benn 2/11, Ravi Rampaul 2/38) by 8 runs.