ENGLAND v WEST INDIES
KENSINGTON OVAL, BRIDGETOWN, APRIL 21,
2007
Neither
side had a chance to qualify for the semi-finals but it was Brian Charles
Lara’s farewell. So for the first time in the tournament there was a sell-out
crowd. It was, however, not the fairy-tale farewell that the multitude had
hoped to see, for though there was a thrilling penultimate ball result by a
razor-thin one-wicket margin, the West Indies lost, and Lara’s promising
innings was cut short by a tragic run out.
Chris
Gayle provided the fireworks as he raced to his fifty off a mere 29 balls. He
smashed 10 fours and 3 sixes in his 79 off just 58 deliveries. Devon Smith, the
diminutive left-hander from Grenada, helped post 131 runs in their opening
stand in only 23.5 overs. Gayle’s departure saw Lara walking in to a gracious
guard of honour from the England team. He looked in superb touch and was
determined to play one last memorable innings. A vintage square-drive had the crowd
on its feet. He had stroked 3 fours in his 18 off 17 balls when Marlon Samuels
pushed one to mid on and called for a sharp single, then changed his mind.
Kevin Pietersen’s smart direct hit found the legend short of the crease. The
standing ovation ceased much after he disappeared into the pavilion.
As if
to atone for this sacrilege, Samuels smashed 51 off a mere 39 deliveries with
six hits to the ropes and one over it. His fifth-wicket partnership with
Shivnaraine Chanderpaul realized 77 runs in a matter of 9.3 overs. A couple of
run outs in the last over meant that the West Indies were bowled out for 300 with
one delivery remaining. Skipper Michael Vaughan took three wickets for 39 off
10 overs with his gentle off-breaks.
Vaughan
then carved out a superb innings of his own. He was the dominant partner in a
defining second-wicket stand of 90 in 13 overs with Ravi Bopara. His
partnership with Pietersen realized 53 in 11 overs. When Dwayne Bravo inflicted
the second of his run outs, Vaughan had already set his side on the high road
to victory. He stroked a classy 79 off 68 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. Pietersen
then took charge as only he can, striking the ball belligerently and innovating
audaciously. But wickets began to tumble.
Parity
was restored when Paul Nixon joined Pietersen. They smashed 80 in
ten-and-a-half overs for the seventh wicket. Pietersen reached his century off
90 deliveries but was bowled next ball by Jerome Taylor. He had smashed 10
fours and a six. The match swung yet again. With 29 to get off three overs with
two wickets left it seemed that Lara would bid a victorious goodbye. Nixon then
hit 3 fours off four Corey Collymore deliveries. The fifth was short and went
screamimg for four byes. Nixon took a single off the last ball. A run per ball
was required off the last two overs. The penultimate over yielded 8 runs. Lara
brought on the canny Bravo. Nixon was bowled off the second delivery with three
still to get and the last pair in. Two deliveries yielded one run. Stuart Broad
hit the fifth over cover to bring up a heart-stopping win. Feted at the
post-match presentation, Lara’s last words to the crowd were, “Did I
entertain?”. The “yes” in unison was heard by billions around the globe.
West Indies: 300 all out (49.5 overs)
England: 301 for 9 wickets (49.5 overs)
(Author Indra
Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).
Follow his blogs:
Indra Vikram Singh’s books are available at attractive
prices on Amazon:
The Big Book of
World Cup Cricket 1975-2011
Published in India by Sporting Links
ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3
Crowning Glory
Published by Sporting Links
ISBN 978-81-901668-6-7
Don’s Century
Published in India by Sporting Links
ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0
A Maharaja’s
Turf
Published in India by Sporting Links
ISBN 978-81-901668-3-6
Indra Vikram Singh’s forthcoming books:
Indian Spring, on India’s triumph in the cricket World Cup 2011
Wonder Down Under, special souvenir on the
cricket World Cup 2015
