England vs West Indies, 2019 World Cup, Match 19: Joe Root ton powers England to a clinical 8-wicket victory over West Indies
Highlights, England vs West Indies, 2019 World Cup: Hello and welcome to our coverage of England vs West Indies, 2019 World Cup Match 19 from The Rose Bowl, Southampton. Stay tuned for updates and ball-by-ball commentary fro the ENG Vs WI clash. England captain Eoin Morgan has won the toss and opted to field first to use the moist conditions fully. The hosts remain unchanged from their last match against Pakistan while West Indies have made three changes and drafted in Andre Russell, Evin Lewis and Shannon Gabriel in the playing XI. Follow all the score and updates from England vs West Indies match here. (Match scorecard)
England beat West Indies by 8 wickets
21.44 IST: Jason Holder to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Stokes finishes the game off with a boundary! Takes full toll of the Free Hit. Holder bowls it very full on leg stump. Stokes jams it past mid on and the ball races away. He walks up to Root and hugs him. All smiles in the England camp as THEY HAVE WON BY 8 WICKETS!
21.41 IST: Jason Holder to Ben Stokes, NO BALL AND FOUR! Now it should be the last over of the game. Just the 4 needed now and Stokes has a Free Hit on the next ball to finish the game. Shortish and outside off, Stokes does not hit it right off the middle but gets it past mid off. The fielder does give it a chase but fails to stop the ball. Holder also has overstepped.
21.39 IST: Oshane Thomas to Joe Root, 100 for Joe Root. His second century of this World Cup. He becomes only the second Englishman to get 2 centuries in the same World Cup. This has been a gem of a knock from the Yorkshire man. He gets to 16th ODI hundred with a pull towards fine leg for a single.
21.37 IST: Oshane Thomas to Joe Root, Ahh... gets to 99. Has to wait for his century. Good length ball on off, Root pulls it wide of deep square leg but gets only a single.
21.30 IST: Shannon Gabriel to Chris Woakes, OUT! Not that this wicket changes the result of the game but West Indies will take it. Saves them some blushes.
21.27 IST: Shannon Gabriel to Joe Root, Outside off on a length, Root punches it through covers and gets a couple. That brings up the 100-run stand between the two. It has come off just 106 balls. Also, Root is now 5 runs away from his ton.
* DRINKS! The result is probably a no-brainier at the moment. It is now more about - will Root get to his ton? Will Woakes get to his half ton? Will England win the match by 9 wickets? We'll find out shortly.
21.17 IST: Shannon Gabriel to Chris Woakes, Outside off on a length, Woakes flat-bats it back to the bowler. The ball deflects off Gabriel's hand onto the stumps at the non-striker's end. No casualty as Root was in.
21.15 IST: Shannon Gabriel to Joe Root, Full on middle and leg, Root drives it through mid on. Thomas gives it the chase and pulls it back before the ropes. Root goes back for the third.
21.11 IST: Chris Gayle to Joe Root, FOUR! Sliced away. Short around off, Root cuts it through point for a boundary.
21.09 IST: Carlos Brathwaite to Chris Woakes, FOUR! Finally Wakes manages to pull it wide of the boundary protectors on the on side for a boundary.
21.07 IST: Carlos Brathwaite to Chris Woakes, Good length ball on off, Woakes plays a good pull shot but there is a man at deep mid-wicket and gets a single.
21.04 IST: Chris Gayle to Chris Woakes, Tossed up on the pads, Woakes sweeps it uppishly behind square leg and gets a couple.
21.00 IST: Carlos Brathwaite to Chris Woakes, Once again an uppish pull but it is between long on and deep mid-wicket. Allen runs in from deep mid-wicket and stops it before the ropes with a dive. The batsman take two.
20.57 IST: Chris Gayle to Chris Woakes, NOT OUT! The impact is outside off and West Indies lose their review. Tossed up around off, Woakes looks to defend it but misses and gets hit on the pads. West Indies players appeal but it is turned down.
20.53 IST: Carlos Brathwaite to Joe Root, outside off on a length, Root helps it down to third man and keeps the strike with one.
20.50 IST: Chris Gayle to Chris Woakes, Very slow on the pads, Woakes looks to nudge it on the leg side but misses to get hit on the pads. A huge appeal from Holder but he is the only one doing so. In the meantime, the batters run a leg bye as the ball rolls towards square leg.
20.45 IST: Carlos Brathwaite to Joe Root, FOUR! Back of a length ball, Root pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket. Pooran runs to his right and looks to save it with a dive but he misses and the ball goes away to the ropes.
* Carlos Brathwaite is back on!
20.42 IST: Chris Gayle to Joe Root, On the pads, Root looks to work it on the leg side but misses to get hit on the pads. An appeal from Gayle but nothing from the umpire.
* Chris Gayle is on now!
20.40 IST: Oshane Thomas to Joe Root, FOUR! Pulled and pulled hard. Once again it is short and Root once again pulls it over cow corner and gets a boundary. West Indies need to understand that the short ball is not doing any damage to Root.
20.38 IST: Oshane Thomas to Joe Root, FOUR! Pulled and pulled hard. Once again it is short and Root once again pulls it over cow corner and gets a boundary. West Indies need to understand that the short ball is not doing any damage to Root.
20.34 IST: Oshane Thomas to Chris Woakes, FOUR! Short, wide and punished. Good length ball outside off, Woakes pounces on it and cuts it through point for a boundary.
20.32 IST: Carlos Brathwaite to Joe Root, FOUR! Good effort in the field from Bravo but cannot stop it from going to the fence.
20.29 IST: Carlos Brathwaite to Joe Root, FOUR! Overpitched on off, Root is just too good to miss out on that. He drives it nonchalantly through mid off for a boundary.
20.28 IST: Jason Holder to Joe Root, FIFTY FOR JOE ROOT! His 32nd in ODI. He gets to the landmark with a flicks down to deep mid-wicket for a single. It has been a top-notch innings from the English Test skipper. Opened the innings today but never looked out of place. ENG 115/1 in 18 overs
20.21 IST: Shannon Gabriel to Chris Woakes, FOUR! Hammered away! Good length ball on off, Woakes likes the length and hammers his pull through mid-wicket for a boundary.
20.19 IST: Shannon Gabriel to Joe Root, FOUR! Handsome. Full on off, Root drives it magnificently through covers and gets a boundary. He makes it looks all so easy.
20.13 IST: Jason Holder to Joe Root, The crowd is up in cheers as Chris Gayle dives and stops the ball. Good length ball on off, Root drives it to the left of Chris Gayle at cover. He dives there and stops it.
* Drinks Break! Jonny Bairstow has departed but he has set the platform for this chase. With just 118 required and 9 wickets in hand England can surely not lose this. Joe Root is still out there and looking good to get one more half-century in this World Cup.
20.08 IST: Shannon Gabriel to Jonny Bairstow, OUT! Did I just jinx Bairstow? The English batsman goes for a big hit again, but this time, he's caught at third man!
20.06 IST: Shannon Gabriel to Jonny Bairstow, FOUR! That has gone to the fence like a tracer bullet! Wow! What sound did that make off the bat. Slightly short and Bairstow is waiting for it. He is quickly onto the back foot and then powers it through the mid-wicket fence
20.05 IST: Both the England batsmen are taking it slow. Ones and twos are way to go for both the players, as England are slowly reaching towards the target.
19.52 IST: Jason Holder to Jonny Bairstow, FOUR! Nothing going West Indies way.
19.51 IST: Jason Holder to Jonny Bairstow, FOUR! Poor from the West Indian skipper.
* The physio are out in the middle having a concussion check on Jonny Bairstow. He looks fine and he has has replaced his helmet.
19.46 IST: Andre Russell to Jonny Bairstow, Ouch! That must have jarred him. Russell bangs it in short, he put in a lot of effort on this one as he falls after bowling it. Bairstow looks to get away from it but the ball hits him right on his helmet.
19.43 IST: Andre Russell to Jonny Bairstow, FOUR! Cleverly played. He was expecting this back of a length ball to bounce higher and he was planning to leave it but the ball does not bounce much and he just lofts it over the slips with his uppercut for a boundary.
19.41 IST: Jason Holder to Joe Root, Inside edge has saved Root there. Fuller on off, the ball nips back in. Root loks to defend but fortunately for him gets an inside edge onto his pads. Solid start for the skipper. Just 1 off his first. England are 62/0 at the end of Powerplay 1. They need another 141 runs off 40 overs.
19.39 IST: Jason Holder to Jonny Bairstow, Play and a miss. Slightly shorter than the previous one, Bairstow goes for the big pull but misses. There was a little inswing once the ball went past the bat.
* Such is England's batting talent. Their two crucial batsmen got injured but it has not mattered much to them. They have shown that the Plan B was ready for such scenarios and Joe Root has stepped up to deliver as an opener. The English team is in cruise control at the moment against some listless bowling from West Indies.
* The skipper brings himself on. Jason Holder is into the attack. Just the one over for Russell then.
19.32 IST: Shannon Gabriel to Joe Root, FOUR! Up and over. Good length ball on off, Root has no qualms and pulls it over backward square leg with comfort. There is no one in the deep there so no risk and he gets a boundary.
19.27 IST: Andre Russell to Joe Root, FOUR! Fifty comes up for England with that glorious boundary.
* Change from both the ends now as Andre Russell is on!
19.23 IST: Shannon Gabriel to Joe Root, Another good looking shot this. Length ball outside off, Root cuts it past point and runs the first one hard. The outfield is still damp so as the fielder from third man mops it up, Root comes back for the second. Good running this.
* Shannon Gabriel is on now! His skipper needs a wicket, can he deliver?
19.19 IST: Oshane Thomas to Joe Root, FOUR! Root is oozing class at the moment. Full outside off, Root gets on his front foot and plays a handsome cover drive for a boundary.
19.16 IST: Oshane Thomas to Jonny Bairstow, FOUR! SHOT! Full on middle, Bairstow plays a picture-perfect on drive past mid on for a boundary. Bairstow holds the pose for the cameras. Reminiscent of the great Sachin Tendulkar's straight drive.
19.12 IST: Sheldon Cottrell to Joe Root, FOUR! Classic Joe Root. Full outside off, Root gets on his front foot and plays a textbook cover drive for a boundary.
19.09 IST: Oshane Thomas to Joe Root, FOUR! Too good! Just too good. Thomas lands it on a length around off, Root pulls it with ease through backward square leg for a boundary. That shot had class written all over it.
19.04 IST: Sheldon Cottrell to Jonny Bairstow, FOUR! That was four the moment Bairstow hit it. Full outside off. It is slightly overpitched, Bairstow takes it with both hands and drives it through covers for a boundary.
19.02 IST: Oshane Thomas to Jonny Bairstow, FOUR! First one of the innings and it has come right off the meat. Thomas bowls it on a length outside off. He offers a nice amount of room and Bairstow pounces on it. Jonny slaps it through covers for a boundary.
18.59 IST: Sheldon Cottrell to Joe Root, A very well bowled bouncer to end the over. It is close to the body, Root jumps and does well to keep it down. Not a big chase so they can take their time. 3 off the first over.
18.55 IST: Sheldon Cottrell to Jonny Bairstow, Cottrell starts with a bouncer. It is on the leg side, Bairstow ducks under it. There were some doubts whether it is a wide or not but the umpire is happy.
* We are back for the chase! The West Indies players are in a huddle before they take their positions in the field. Jason Roy is injured and also he cannot bat before number 7. So Jonny Bairstow walks out with a new partner in Joe Root. Both are from Yorkshire so understanding should not be an issue. This is the first time that Root is opening for England in ODIs. Sheldon Cottrell to operate with the first new ball.
* Barring Chris Gayle and the pair of Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran, there wasn't much fight shown by the boys from Caribbean. They kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and eventually got bundled out with 32 balls left.
* A very professional bowling show by England! They were right on the money from the word go. Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer set the tone initially by bowling with a lot of fire. Liam Plunkett and Mark Wood didn't the intensity drop and piled on the misery. Reduced to 55/3, Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran raised an 89-run stand to revive the innings but then Eoin Morgan played the masterstroke.
18.24 IST: Mark Wood to Shannon Gabriel, OUT! TIMBER! Full and straight and the stumps are knocked over. Too good for a number 11. It also tails back in from outside off, Gabriel fails to get bat on ball and the stumps are disturbed. 50th ODI WICKET FOR MARK WOOD! WEST INDIES ARE BOWLED OUT FOR 212!
* Shannon Gabriel walks out at number 11. Any runs from here will be bonus for West Indies.
18.16 IST: Jofra Archer to Carlos Brathwaite, OUT! Up goes the finger! Brathwaite can't believe he has been given out as he is down on his haunches. No reviews left though and he has to walk back. Archer gets his third. He goes short again and once again Brathwaite is cramped for room.
18.10 IST: Mark Wood to Carlos Brathwaite, SIX! That has been nailed! Picks the length early this time and manages to flick it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. Windies would love a few more of these.
* Mark Wood is back! He has two for now and has a good chance to add to that tally.
18.04 IST: Adil Rashid to Oshane Thomas, Howzzat? The answer to that question is not out. Pitched outside leg. It is the googly. Oshane looks to defend but misses to get hit on the pads. An appeal but the umpire shakes his head.
* Powerplay 3 time! Maximum of 5 fielders can be placed outside the 30-yard circle till the end of the innings. If West Indies manage to take it till there then it will be a surprise.
18.00 IST: Jofra Archer to Oshane Thomas, No hat-trick! The idea was right by Archer. He attacks the stumps and bowls it very full. Thomas keeps it out off the front foot.
* Oshane Thomas is out to face the hat-trick ball. Nervy moment for him. Can he play out the hat-trick ball. Short leg in place for him.
17.58 IST: Jofra Archer to Sheldon Cottrell, OUT! Three reds and Archer is on a hat-trick. Cottrell bags a golden duck. He takes a review along with him. This is once again angled into the batsman, Sheldon shuffles right across and looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. England make a huge appeal. The umpire takes his time and then raises the finger. Cottrell reviews and replays show that the on-field call this time is the right one. WI 202/8 in 39.5 overs
17.56 IST: Jofra Archer to Nicholas Pooran, OUT! There is a spike on snicko and Pooran has to take the long walk back. Excellent use of the review by England, actually by Buttler as Jofra Archer never seemed confident there. WI 202/7 in 39.4 overs
* Another injury issue here for England! Morgan seems to be struggling and now is limping off the field. Not exactly sure what the issue is. Roy first and now Morgan. Worrying signs for England this.
17.49 IST: Adil Rashid to Nicholas Pooran, FOUR! Nicely played! The googly on leg stump, Pooran gets on top of the bounce and sweeps it all along the ground through square leg for a boundary.
17.46 IST: Jofra Archer to Nicholas Pooran, Good bumper and it is well-directed. Pooran ducks under it in time.
* The pacy Jofra Archer is back for his second spell. 5-0-25-0 is his figures so far. Has been wicketless but has bowled with aggression.
17.42 IST: Mark Wood to Carlos Brathwaite, A little too straight this time, Brathwaite works it through mid-wicket and gets off strike.
* The new man in is Carlos Brathwaite. 13.4 overs left in the innings. He too can take his time here and then go ballistic. But before doing that he has to support Pooran who is playing a fine knock.
17.39 IST: Mark Wood to Andre Russell, OUT! Woakes takes it this time! Wood has the last laugh! Russell once again throws it away. He was just going after everything here and perishes in the attempt to find the boundary again. Wood bangs it short and cramps the batsman for room by bowling it closer to the body. Russell is in no position to pull it but still goes for the shot. He gets a top edge and it goes towards deep square leg where Woakes takes a sitter. England continue to remain on top. WI 188/6 in 36.2 overs
17.38 IST: Mark Wood to Andre Russell, FOUR! Has not started this one well! Russell welcomes Wood back into the attack with a boundary. He makes room and Wood follows him. AR whips it through mid-wicket and bags a boundary.
* Mark Wood is back on! He was brilliant in his first spell. Can he do the same again?
17.36 IST: Joe Root to Andre Russell, FIVE WIDES! Bonus runs! Root may have felt that Russell is going to charge at him so he fires it down the leg side. AR does not do so, he lets this one go. Buttler fails to collect it and it races to the fine leg fence.
17.34 IST: Joe Root to Nicholas Pooran, Excellent fielding effort from Jonny Bairstow as he saved the crucial runs for his team.
17.31 IST: Adil Rashid to Andre Russell, SIX! Russell goes straight this time! Another fuller delivery and Russell takes the aerial route again. Hits it over the bowler's head, and Rashid stands silent, probably contemplating over the dropped catch five balls ago.
17.30 IST: Adil Rashid to Andre Russell, SIX! Rashid keeps it a bit fuller and wide, and Russell smashes it hard over long off. It was a googly, but it hardly matters for the West Indian.
17.26 IST: DROPPED! Chris Woakes drops Andre Russell on 3! How costly is this drop going to prove?
*Andre Russell is the new man in.
17.23 IST: Adil Rashid to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run. 50 for Pooran!
17.19 IST: Joe Root to Jason Holder, OUT! Wow, Root has got two! The West Indies captain wanted to flick it towards the midwicket but an outside-edge goes straight into Root's hands!
17.17 IST: Joe Root to Jason Holder, SIX! Straight over the bowler's head! Holder steps out and hits it straight.
17.10 IST: Joe Root to Shimron Hetmyer, Root has done the trick here. He has broken this budding partnership. It is a very soft dismissal for Hetmyer. Root bowls an off-spinner around off, Hetmyer looks to drive it towards long on. He hits it uppishly to the left of Root. He moves there and takes a simple caught and bowled.
* Joe Root is into the attack now. He replaces Stokes. The two dashing West Indian southpaw have steadied the ship nicely here. Can Root break the partnership here?
17.01 IST: Adil Rashid to Shimron Hetmyer, Third brace in the over! This is down the leg side, Hetmyer works it fine on the leg side and takes two.
16.57 IST: Ben Stokes to Shimron Hetmyer, FOUR! Through long on this time! Consecutive boundaries! 20 from the last 8 balls. Hetmyer once again clears his front leg, Stokes tries to cramp him for room by bowling it closer to the body. Hetmyer adjusts and smashes it through mid on.
16.55 IST: Ben Stokes to Shimron Hetmyer, FOUR! Good start to the over once again for the Windies. Clears his front leg, Stokes bowls it slightly short and Hetmyer manages to pull it in the gap in the mid-wicket region for a boundary. Runs coming thick and fast now.
16.54 IST: Adil Rashid to Nicholas Pooran, 10 from the first three balls! Pooran picks the length early and pulls it hard towards Stokes who fails to stop it cleanly. It rolls towards deep mid-wicket where the batters take two.
16.53 IST: Adil Rashid to Nicholas Pooran, SIX! All the way! Slightly short and Pooran pounces on it. He rocks back and hammers it over the mid-wicket stand. Ideal start to this over after a quiet last.
16.52 IST: Ben Stokes to Shimron Hetmyer, Well fielded! Shorter and on middle, Hetmyer pulls it nicely but Root at mid-wicket, dives to his right and saves a boundary. A quiet over by Stokes.
16.51 IST: Ben Stokes to Shimron Hetmyer, Cramps the batsman for room by bowling it on the body. Hetmyer somehow hits it towards mid off. He thinks of a run but then bails out.
16.46 IST: Adil Rashid to Shimron Hetmyer, FOUR! Once again the last ball spoils the over. 100 up for the Windies. Hetmyer uses his feet, does not exactly get to the pitch of it but still lofts it over the bowler's head. No fielder there so a boundary.
16.44 IST: Ben Stokes to Nicholas Pooran, Top edge and FOUR! On the body and it is a seam-up ball. Pooran looks to pull but gets a top edge which goes fine down the leg side for a welcome boundary. The last ball somewhat spoils the over for Stokes.
16.42 IST: Ben Stokes to Shimron Hetmyer, Once again the slowness off the wicket is visible here! Stokes bangs it halfway down the wicket and it is the slower one. Hetmyer waits and then pulls but is still early in the shot. It goes off the toe-end towards cover.
* Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran are the gen next players for West Indies. Both are known for their big shots but have sensibly batted so far. It's all about changing your game as per the situations. Anyway, West Indies at the moment need a partnership. Big hitting can be left for the likes of Dre Russ and Remember the Name. Plenty of time left, still.
16.38 IST: Adil Rashid to Shimron Hetmyer, Tempts the batsman by flighting the ball and landing it around leg. Hetmyer resists and works it through square leg for one.
* Adil Rashid is on! Changes from both ends by England.
16.36 IST: Ben Stokes to Nicholas Pooran, Once again Pooran fails to time it. Guilty of going too hard at the ball here. Short and on off, he looks to slap it straight down the ground but mistimes it to mid off.
16.33 IST: Ben Stokes to Shimron Hetmyer, This time he pulls it hard but too close to the fielder at deep square leg. Only a run.
16.32 IST: Liam Plunkett to Nicholas Pooran, Pooran dances down the track but Plunkett bowls it shorter and slower. Pooran defends it. Intent shown by both the batsmen in the last two overs or so.
16.27 IST: Liam Plunkett to Nicholas Pooran, Pooran dances down the track but Plunkett bowls it shorter and slower. Pooran defends it. Intent shown by both the batsman in the last two overs or so.
16.24 IST: Mark Wood to Shimron Hetmyer, Wide called for height! Wood bangs in a short ball on middle and it just shoots off the surface. Shimron ducks and Buttler does well to collect the ball with a jump.
* Shimron Hetmyer replaces his damaged willow.
16.21 IST: Liam Plunkett to Shimron Hetmyer, FOUR! Bang! Plunkett digs in a short ball on middle, Hetmyer generates a lot of power behind his pull shot and dismisses it over mid-wicket for a boundary. 12 from the over!
16.18 IST: Liam Plunkett to Nicholas Pooran, FOUR! That's a lovely shot! Plunkett delivers it a little short and outside off, Pooran latches onto it and spanks it through point for a boundary.
16.14 IST: Mark Wood to Nicholas Pooran, he looks to play one through the off side but the ball takes the outside edge and runs down towards third man and the batsmen cross for a single.
* Drinks break. England in a strong position after removing the top three West Indian batsmen. Chris Gayle showed a bit of aggressive intent but nothing much from the other batsmen so far.
16.08 IST: Liam Plunkett to Shimron Hetmyer, Length delivery on the pads, Hetmyer flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
* Shimron Hetmyer is the next man in.
16.02 IST: Mark Wood to Shai Hope, OUT! No inside edge and it's hitting leg. The umpire will have to change his decision. Second wicket for England in quick succession and they have now dismissed the batsman in form for West Indies.
* Appeal for an lbw! That looks close. But the umpire has turned it down. Is there some inside edge? If not, believe me, Shai Hope is in trouble.
* Nicholas Pooran comes in at number 4.
15.58 IST: Liam Plunkett to Chris Gayle, OUT! Plunkett has hunted down the Jamaican giant! He goes short and challenges the batsman to have a go at it. Gayle accepts the proposal and attempts to pull it across the line. But the ball arrives a bit late to take the top edge. It balloons in the air and Bairstow takes a fine catch running to his left from deep mid-wicket. WI 54/2 in 13 overs
15.56 IST: Liam Plunkett to Shai Hope, FOUR! Not sure he intended to play it that close to Buttler. Good length delivery outside off, holding its line, Hope opens the face of his bat to run it down but it takes the outside half of his blade and screams past the diving keeper for a boundary at third man.
15.55 IST: Liam Plunkett to Chris Gayle, Back of a length ball around leg, Gayle goes deep inside the crease to pull but it hurries in and beats his bat. It hits his thigh pads and speeds down towards third man for a leg bye.
15.52 IST: Mark Wood to Chris Gayle, Bowls one in the line of the stumps this time. Gayle gets behind it properly and keeps it out safely on the off side.
15.49 IST: Liam Plunkett to Shai Hope, Outstanding stop by Morgan! Shai Hope plays a crunching cover drive but fails to beat the English skipper at extra cover. Eoin dives full length to his left to stop the racing ball.
15.47 IST: Liam Plunkett to Chris Gayle, Good length ball on middle, Gayle blocks it solidly on the leg side. It goes in the gap at mid-wicket and they cross for a run.
* Liam Plunkett comes in as the first change up.
15.44 IST: Jofra Archer to Shai Hope, Sharp delivery, on middle and angling down the leg side at 147 kph. Hope is beaten in pace as he tries to flick and it goes of his pads to mid-wicket.
* Fine leg comes up. Square leg drops back. There is one less slip now.
15.40 IST: Chris Woakes to Shai Hope, Leading edge! Woakes darts in a good length ball on off and gets it to straighten from there. Hope attempts to play it on the leg side but closes the face of his bat early. It flies off the leading edge, wide of the point fielder and the batsmen cross.
15.36 IST: Chris Woakes to Chris Gayle, SIX! Gayle gives the charge this time. He motors down the track to a length ball and muscles it over the bowler's head. Chris is unleashing on his namesake.
15.34 IST: Chris Woakes to Chris Gayle, FOUR!
* Jason Roy is looking in some discomfort. He seems to have pulled up his hamstring and is leaving the field. James Vince is the substitute in his place.
15.32 IST: Jofra Archer to Chris Gayle, FOUR! Archer bowls one short and Gayle punishes it by rocking on the back foot for a boundary. Gayle is in attacking mode.
15.29 IST: Chris Woakes to Chris Gayle, DROPPED! Gayle is dropped!
15.27 IST: Jofra Archer to Chris Gayle, Snorter by Archer! A perfectly served bouncer around middle, at 143 kph, Gayle fends it off awkwardly on the leg side and takes a run. Fine last delivery but an expensive over, 11 from it.
15.23 IST: Jofra Archer to Chris Gayle, FOUR! Gayle has decided to cut loose. Enough of blocking. The big man rocks on the back foot to a short delivery on middle and pulls it powerfully to the mid-wicket fence.
15.22 IST: Jofra Archer to Chris Gayle, FOUR! Cracked down the ground! Archer overpitches and delivers it outside off, Gayle stays back inside the crease and bludgeons it down the ground for a boundary. Nearly took Jofra's ankle with that brute of a shot.
15.20 IST: Chris Woakes to Shai Hope, Better line from Woakes this time. He delivers it on middle and Hope defends close to his pads.
15.17 IST: Jofra Archer to Chris Gayle, EDGY FOUR! Unlucky for the bowler, spoils a good over.
15.13 IST: Chris Woakes to Evin Lewis, OUT! Timber! A surprise delivery, this. Woakes changes his length to go full and spears it in on middle at 140 kph. Lewis' feet go nowhere as he tries to flick but misses the ball completely. It brushes his pads and goes behind to rattle the stumps. Terrific start for England. WI 4/1 in 3 Overs
15.08 IST: Jofra Archer to Chris Gayle, A gentle delivery this time, at 139 kph, Archer delivers it on a good length around off and takes it away with the angle, Gayle shoulders. Another quiet over, two runs from it!
15.05 IST: Jofra Archer to Evin Lewis, Digs it in short and on off, angling away at 140 kph, Lewis drops his bat and sways away from the line.
* Jofra Archer to bowl from the other end with the second new ball.
15.03 IST: Chris Woakes to Chris Gayle, Skiddy delivery. Woakes lands it on a back of a length around leg and gets it to hurry onto the pads. Gayle fails to put bat on ball this time and it goes off his right thigh to point. Chris stares at the pitching area of that ball.
15.00 IST: Time to get underway. Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis, the power-duo for West Indies, are in the middle to open. Chris Woakes runs in with the first new ball. He has three slips in place. Here we go.
14.53 IST: The players from both sides are lining up in the middle to sing their respective national anthems. The conditions are heavily overcast at the moment and we are expecting some rain spells during the course of this match. For the moment, it's good to go.
14.43 IST: Captains at the toss:
Jason Holder: Opportunity for our guys to get some runs first. Probably would have wanted to bowl first on a fresh wicket. There is a lot at stake. We guys have planned well for this game and we are up for it. It is a matter of adapting to particular individuals on that day. We have got three changes. Evin Lewis comes in, Russell comes back and Shannon Gabriel is making his first appearance."
Eoin Morgan: We are gonna have a bowl first. The wicket has been under covers for last 24 hours. There has been a lot of rain around and we feel there would be some moisture on it. Completely different challenge that we had against Bangladesh. The World Cup is about adapting to conditions. Tough challenge for us. We have got the same team.
14.38 IST: Playing XIs:
West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope (WK), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder (C), Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Oshane Thomas
England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
14.32 IST: TOSS -- Eoin Morgan has won the toss and England will bowl first.
Brief preview: Tournament favourites England will look to continue their dominance when they take on power-packed West Indies in their fourth encounter of the ongoing World Cup at The Rose Bowl. England, who started off their campaign in an impressive manner winning comfortably against South Africa, faced a shock defeat at the hands of Pakistan in their second encounter. However, they came back strongly and aced every department against Bangladesh as they first put up 386/6 on board and then bundled them out for 280 in the 49th over. [Read full preview here]
