ENG vs WI 2017, One-Off T20I: Eoin Morgan Rues Batting Collapses after Suffering Defeat

Sep 17, 2017 at 10:52 AM

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ENG vs WI 2017, One-Off T20I: Eoin Morgan Rues Batting Collapses after Suffering Defeat

What was seen as an opportunity to avenge the heartbreaking loss in the final of the World T20, ended in a meek surrender, as England lost the one-off T20I against West Indies by 21 runs on Saturday.

Barring the start of the chase when Alex Hales took the visitors to the cleaners, England never looked in contention to win the game against the reigning world champions.

Chasing 177, England were undone by two batting collapses. The first one came pretty early which all but sealed the fate of the game when they lost three wickets for just four runs to find themselves reeling at 68 for four from 64 for one. A 50-run stand between Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow revived their hopes, but it soon ended after they lost four wickets for 11 runs. They were eventually all out for 155.

Speaking after the game, England skipper Eoin Morgan admitted it was tough for his bowlers to contain West Indies’ explosive openers – Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle and said losing wickets at regular intervals cost the hosts the game.

“Bowling at a pair like [Evin] Lewis and [Chris] Gayle is obviously going to be a huge opportunity for us to test ourselves against probably one of the stronger T20 opening partnerships around the world,” Morgan told Sky Sports after the match. “We didn’t bowl that well but certainly didn’t lose the game because of that. We were very happy chasing what we did.

“We thought it was a really good wicket. Losing the game was when we lost three wickets in that [early] period and then when Johnny and Jos rebuilt really well, put us into a position where we potentially could have kicked on, we continued to lose wickets. That’s the area of the game we need to look at,” he added.

West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite heaped praise on Lewis and Gayle for their explosive 39-ball 77 runs partnership.

CHESTER-LE-STREET, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Chris Gayle of the West Indies bats during the NatWest T20 International match between England and the West Indies at Emirates Durham ICG on September 16, 2017 in Chester-le-Street, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

“Fortunately I was on the same CPL side as those two, so there was a few innings to look on from the outside and enjoy,” Brathwaite said after the win. “Evin has been striking it cleanly. He even had times where Chris has to play second fiddle so you can tell the power of the young lad. What was good was that they held their nerve. Evin didn’t get off to the start that he wanted – Chris got the better start – but Evin stuck in, and when Chris left, he took over. Anytime we get 77 off the first six; you’re ahead of the game.”

The win, meanwhile, gave West Indies the bragging rights of this fixture, as this was their 11th win in 15 T20I against England and Brathwaite said the latest win was the most challenging one due to the testing conditions.

“Conditions were very challenging under foot, very soft and slippery to begin with,” Brathwaite said. “The umpires were very close to calling it off actually. But we stuck in there, and it was a good performance from the boys.”

“What is heartening is that we had a similar start as well and fell away,” said Brathwaite. “So when they had their start, it was just, we had the same start so let’s stay in it. Keswick [Williams] didn’t have the best opening over but to come back and finish with three for 35, finishing the game the way he did was fantastic.”

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