Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 28 (ANI): The DY Patil Stadium was drenched in nostalgia because the icons of West Indies and England assembled underneath the floodlights for the fifth match of the inaugural Worldwide Masters League, 2025, with the West Indies Masters using on an all-round effort at hand England Masters an eight-run defeat for his or her second victory of the event, as per IML press launch.
The stadium was transported again in time as Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith reignited the Caribbean aptitude, launching a fearless assault that powered the West Indies to a blistering 77-run opening stand in simply over 7 overs after being put in to bat.
Gayle, who stood because the West Indies Masters skipper instead of Brian Lara, unleashed a classic power-hitting masterclass, smoking 39 off 19 deliveries, whereas Smith matched his left-handed companion shot for shot to slam 35 off 25. Whereas Gayle dealt largely in boundaries, dispatching the bowlers for 4 large sixes, and three boundaries, Smith was extra subdued of the 2, scoring 4 boundaries and a few sixes.
However simply because the Windies appeared unstoppable, the English spinners utilized the brakes, accounting for high 5 wickets very quickly. Leg-spinner Chris Schofield began the onslaught, breaking the flourishing opening partnership in a span of three deliveries to drag the sport again to stage phrases.
Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar then struck thrice in fast succession to additional dent the West Indian scoring charge, because the Caribbean aspect that when raced to 90 for two in 10 overs, crawled to 113 for five in 15 overs. The arrival of Deonarine and Ashley Nurse, nonetheless, modified the momentum because the duo took the assault again to the opposition with a variety of enticing strokes, and extra importantly offered the late flourish to the innings with a 44-run stand for the sixth wicket. Deonarine clobbered three clear sixes to slam an unbeaten 23-ball 35 whereas Nurse belted two boundaries and as many sixes to complete off with a 13-ball 29, which propelled the innings to 179/6.
In response, England by no means discovered the momentum going their approach after opener Phil Mustard’s masterclass 19-ball 35, laced with seven fours and a six, and captain Eoin Morgan’s 13-ball 22, powered by a few fours and a six, because the West Indian bowlers got here up with a disciplined effort to not solely curb the circulate of runs however stored taking wickets at common intervals, that noticed the English batting tottering at 76/5 inside the primary 10.
After Ravi Rampaul and Jerome Taylor removed the highest three, the spin duo of left-armer Sulieman Benn and offie Ashley Nurse pegged again the Englishmen with three extra wickets.
With the asking charge mounting, Chris Schofield and Chris Tremlett launched a few of the stress by forging a 52-run partnership for the seventh wicket earlier than Taylor ended Schofield’s resistance after the right-hander slammed a 26-ball 32, powered by 5 hits to the fence.
Desperately trying to find their first win within the event, England Masters wanted 18 from the ultimate over, and Stuart Meaker’s 10-ball 24, together with Tremlett’s 19-ball 26, virtually guided them over the road earlier than Dwayne Smith used his expertise to show the tide within the West Indies’ favour.
Temporary Scores: West Indies Masters 179/6 in 20 overs (Chris Gayle 39, Dwayne Smith 35, Monty Panesar 3/14) beat England Masters 171/8 in 20 overs (Phil Mustard 35, Chris Schofield 32, Sulieman Benn 2/11). (ANI)
