ENGLAND’S captain Alastair Cook produced a match-winning hundred (112) and piloted his team to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over the woeful West Indies in the Second One Day Internationals contested at The Oval yesterday. It was England’s third biggest margin of victory in terms of runs against West Indies and in the process Cook’s team clinched the three-match ODIs series by a 2-0 margin following their impressive 114-run win in the first One-Dayer at the Ageas Rose Bowl, Southampton on Sunday last.
Before the ODIs series started, majority of the stories and discussions were centred on West Indies being at full strength and based on the team’s composition would definitely start as the favourite to win against a depleted English team that lost the services of the greatest modern strokeplayer Kevin Pietersen; who suddenly opted for retirement from the ODIs and Twenty20 international formats.
Pietersen’s decision shocked the English establishment and all ardent cricket followers who had witnessed a transformation of Pietersen’s fortunes when shunted up the order to open the innings against Pakistan in the recent series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
The South African-born Pietersen smacked an unbeaten 111 in his first outing as opener and then followed with another match-winning 130 in the next match. These sparkling knocks provided a level of comfort and positive vibes for the England selectors, their team and fanatical followers for future engagements.
However, all those comfortable and optimistic feelings were dashed when Pietersen announced his pre-mature retirement during the Test series. But the English selectors and head coach Andy Flower did not panic and made a wise choice in resorting back to their experienced middle-order batsman Ian Bell who batted like a man on a mission and revived England’s confidence with a majestic match-winning 126 in the First ODIs at the Ageas Rose Bowl.
While West Indies selectors have discarded the ever reliable Shivnarine Chanderpaul, their English counterparts have been proven wiser in their decision-making process to utilise their experienced players in their search for someone to partner Cook at the top of the order.
Bell’s hundred in the first ODIs was the cornerstone for an emphatic victory and he also starred in the second match with an enterprising 53 that contained seven delightful fours off 64 balls. But much more importantly, together with skipper Cook, they laid the foundation for another convincing victory over West Indies which were restricted to 238 for 9 off the allotted 50 overs.
Together the posted 122 for the first wicket partnership and then the quiet man of international cricket Jonathan Trott (43 not out) and Ravi Bopara (19 not out) ensured that there will be no hiccup for the Englishmen as they romped home victorious by eight wickets and five overs to spare on a ground previously dominated by West Indians teams.
The thousands of West Indians supporters who thronged the Oval must have felt utterly crushed and disappointed in the lack of fight and lethargy witnessed from the West Indian players who were thoroughly outplayed and outfoxed by opponents always ready to battle regardless of the odds.
England’s eight-wicket victory was a lesson in professionalism and Cook’s leadership qualities were further enhanced with the clinical and emphatic manner all the players rose to the occasion and assumed responsibility for propelling their team to the top of the ODIs ladder.
The same cannot be said of the West Indies outfit which has only been showing sporadic sparks of fighting qualities.
Christopher Gayle’s return was a big boost and the pugnacious opener treated the fans, at the ground and on television, with some powerful strokes that cleared the boundary ropes and sailed into the crowd and even unto the pavilion roof top.
After a sedate start, Gayle displayed his attacking style and smashed five sixes and seemed to be on his way to a big score. But Cook cleverly brought on his off-spinner Graeme Swann who, operating from round the wicket, trapped the aggressive Gayle LBW for 53 that also contained three fours off 51 balls.
It was a controversial dismissal and even after television replay reviews; no one seemed sure whether the ball struck the pad first before bat. Umpire Tony Hill was convinced that it was pad first before the bat touched the ball and he ruled him out LBW.
But Gayle asked for the TV review and umpire Kumar Dharmesena could not say whether it was otherwise, so the original decision stood. The left-hander walked off is utter dismay and dismissal saw a complete change of the complexion of the proceedings.
Some of the other West Indies batsmen lost their focus and sense of responsibility.
Lendl Simmons was bogged down and made a pedestrian 12 off 50 balls while the inform Dwayne Smith (0) and Marlon Samuels (12) perished cheaply.
At 79 for 4, it seemed as if West Indies will struggle to get beyond the 250-run mark to be in a better position to fight for victory.
In the end, West Indies managed 238 for 9 with all-rounders Darren Bravo 77 (2x6s and 8x4s off 82 balls) and Kieron Pollard (41 with 1×6 and 3x4s off 52 balls) contributing an exact 100-run fifth wicket partnership.
While Bravo and Pollard restored some respectability the rest of the batting order succumbed against the disciplined English bowlers whose nagging accuracy on a very good batting pitch must be commended and they set the stage for Cook, Bell and Trott to complete the annihilation and secure another series victory at home, their eighth consecutive.
Ravi Rampaul (7-0-20-0) and Pollard (3-0-10-0) were economical while Sunil Narine (10-1-54-0) and Sammy (10-0-42-2), who got both wickets to fall; can claim minor consolation in the face of such a crushing defeat.
There were quite a few similarities at the Kensington Oval in 2009 (March 29) when the Chris Gayle-led West Indies team received a sound whipping by nine wickets by the Andrew Strauss’ England team in a rain-affected match.
West Indies scored 238 for 9 off 50 overs, one less than yesterday at The Oval while Dwayne Bravo was also the topscorer with 69 that was studded with two sixes and seven fours off 72 balls. Gayle was second best with 46.
Persistent showers had threatened to end the match on a stalemate but the clouds drifted away and play resumed at 4.30 pm. Using the Duckworth/Lewis System, the Englishmen were set a victory target of 135 to win in 20 overs.
And it was captain Strauss, like Cook; who emerged as the batting hero with an unbeaten 79 (1×6 and 9x4s off 61 balls). He shared an opening partnership of 108 with Bopara who made 35 and when victory was achieved, he was awarded the “Man of the Match” trophy. In fading light, England got home with 136 for 1 off 18.3 overs
On this occasion, it was skipper Cook who shone brightly and in tandem with Bell featured in a 122-run first wicket partnership. For his brilliant 112, Cook who can only count five sixes in his career, compared to Gayle with 174; was presented with the “Man of the Match” award.
Just for the records, England’s biggest margin victory over West Indies was a ten-wicket win over the James Adams’ West Indies team at Chester-le-Street ground on July 15, 2000. West Indies were reduced to a paltry 169 for eight wickets off 50 overs.
Brian Lara the main run-getter with 54. He and Gayle (26), who batted at number five; shared a 61-run fourth wicket partnership but the others made no impact.
In reply, left-handed Marcus Trescothick (87 not out, 1×6, 8x4s) and skipper Alex Stewart (74 not out, 1×6, 4×4) pulverised Reon King, Nixon McClean, Mervyn Dillon, Franklyn Rose, Gayle and Adams as they featured in an unbroken 171-run first wicket partnership and romped to an emphatic 10-wicket victory in 35.2 overs.
This is another lost series for the West Indies team that has become “dead-rubber specialists” in recent times.  Very soon you will hear the overused refrain of “playing for pride”.
Every time “playing for pride” statement is made; ardent as well as disenchanted West Indian supporters usually ask and wonder aloud if that statement reveals that the players are not playing for pride in the other important matches.
As it stands, England revels in their continued dominance at home while Sammy and his team can only strive to avoid a complete “whitewash” in the third and final ODIs which will be contested today at Headingly.