Group D: West Indies v England commentary

West Indies Win By Eight Wickets (Duckworth/Lewis) The hosts advance through to the Super Eights, while England have to pot it out with Ireland in order to advance come Tuesday. Pity this clash was a truncated affair, for it was shaping up to be a cracker. But a win is a win and the men from the Caribbean can be well pleased that Mum Nature was on their side today. Cheers from us and spot you again for Tuesday's action.

Over 5.5 Broad 1-2-1-4-1 60-2 - Collingwood asks young Stu to cough up a brilliant final over, with fine-leg back on the fence and midwicket waiting for the aerial shot. Mid-off is inside the inner circle and Chanderpaul swats a single through cover. Fletcher is left to the strike, with Broad opting to come around the wicket to the left-hander, who runs hard for two clubbed down the ground. Stu then switches to back over the wicket, Fletcher heaving hard but missing completely, leaving Chanderpaul to offer a slap on the wrist to the young man. Fletcher makes up for his mistake by smacking four past short fine-leg and winning the match with a single slapped through cover.

Over 5 Yardy 1-1-1-1-1-1 52-2 - More spin as Yardy does his best to stave off the inevitable big hits with a string of darts, rather than floating 'em up. Fletcher and Chanderapaul skew a collective few to the gaps in the outfield and those'll do just fine as the a thrilling ultimate over awaits us all. West Indies need 8 runs from 6 balls to win.

Over 4 Swann 2-6-W-1wd,W-0-1-2wd-1 46-2 - Gayle uses his feet nicely to the spinner, dancing down the wicket to squeeze two through square-leg and following that up with a fat six high and hard over long-on to pretty much seal the deal for the Windies. Wicket! It's the bowler who has the last laugh though, with Gayle trying one big hit too many to hole out at midwicket. Pollard in now, keen to pick up where his six-savaging captain left off. Wicket! He can't manage as much though, with Kieswetter and Swann combining to snapple and stump the right-hander down the leg-side, which is a wide regardless of its success. Fletcher in now, fetching a fat dip over midwicket first ball up to no avail. Instead he misses, and endures a hopeful shout for lbw. West Indies need 14 runs from 12 balls to win.

Over 3 Bresnan 0-0-1wd-1-1 33-0 - Collingwood employs delay tactics, calling for a teamtalk in the middle of the pitch. Needless to say, he had all the time in the world to do this when the rain was falling. Bresnan is then left to complete his over broken by the rain, doing so with two valuable dot balls to Chanderpaul before spoiling things with a naughty leg-side wide. West Indies need 27 runs from 18 balls to win.

Game On, Again Official word has it that the Windies are now in pursuit of 30 runs from 22 balls. That seems simple enough and England need a miracle here, which will be greatly aided by the very early wicket of Gayle. All and sundry back out in the middle and here we go, again...

The Long And The Short Of It Play will start shortly, with the Windies asked to face seven overs in total, so 4.4 more. There is a calculation frenzy on the go, with some suggestion revealing Gayle and posse need to reach 60 for nought or 63 for one at the turn of the seventh over.

Good News At 16:24 Local Time (20:24 GMT) The downpour has come to a sudden halt and, given the superb drainage system on offer at the Providence Stadium, the umpires will make a decision on the restart time soon.

Sodden Scenes At 16:19 Local Time (20:19 GMT) It's bucketing down now and chance of further play are entirely bleak. Should there be no more action today, the Windies will advance to the Super Eights stage, while the English and Irish will be left to pot it out for a spot in the advanced stages of the tourney come Tuesday's clash, also in Guyana.

Still Raining At 15:54 Local Time (19:54 GMT) Sad, but true. No sign of it relenting either.

Rain Stops Play At 15:21 Local Time (19:21 GMT) As the covers are dragged on, Duckworth-Lewis deductions reveal that five overs into this innings will constitute a result, with the Windies needing to be 43 without loss or 46 for one at their five-over mark. Nothing more to say for now, other than all and sundry are holed up in the pavilion now as Mum Nature does here sodden thing out in the middle.

Over 2.2 Bresnan 1wd-1-2 30-0 - Rightly so, Sidebottom is yanked out of the attack as beefy Bresnan enters the bowling fray. And with that, the players head off the field as the heavens open...

Over 2 Swann 1-1-1-2wd-0-0-6 26-0 - As so many tournament counterparts have done before them, England open their bowling with a spinner alongside a seamer. While Gayle assumes the role of aggressor, Chanderpaul is more than happy to take up the anchor position as Swann makes up for Sidebottom's expense previously. Until, that is, Chanderpaul - out of the blue - whips out a reverse-sweep for six over deep point-cum-backward square-leg.

Over 1 Sidebottom 0-0-4-4-1wd-0-6 15-0 - Gayle is straight into the swing of things, smacking a fat edge over the solitary slip for four before following that up with an absolute scream through mid-off for four more. Southpaw seamer Sidebottom bites back with a couple of play'n'misses outside the off-stump, before Gayle has the final say - for this over, at least - with an utterly audacious crash over long-off for six. Cleanest strike of the tournament, possibly.

Windies' Wallop Gayle, Chanderpaul, the umpires and the English XI head out to the middle under gloomy skies. Let's hope the weather holds, unlike the other Sri Lanka-Zimbabwe result earlier today.

England End On 191 For Five Morgan's unorthodox strokeplay and Wright's fat sixes on the back of Kieswetter, Lumb and Pietersen's foundation at the top of the knock have carried England to a spectacular score on a slow track. The Windies were tonked to all corners and need a huge knock from captain Gayle if they are to pull off an unlikely win. Stick around for the chase, it should be a cracker...

Over 20 Bravo 1-W-2-0-4-2 191-5 - It's Bravo who cops the unenviable task of bowling the last six balls of the innings to a duo in full flourish. Wicket! Approaching from around the wicket to the right-hander, the seamer keeps Wright to a single to cover before geting rid of dangerman Morgan, who finally holes out on the cover fence. A whirlwind 95-run stand ends and in comes Bresnan to, perhaps, add the finishing touches to a big score alongside Wright. Lavish Luke keeps going, smearing four through Cow Corner to close the innings.

Over 19 Benn 1b-1-2-4-1-1 182-4 - Morgan continues to hurt the Windies with reverse-sweeps to the boundary aplenty, bringing up his half-century off 32 balls in the process, two fours and three sixes included. He then attempts a massive hit over midwicket, losing his grip on the bat and watching with a giggle as the willow flies through the on-side. Lucky nobody was in the way of that...

Over 18 Rampaul 6-6-2nb-6-4-2-1 172-4 - Gayle gets his change of bowling very wrong, opting for expensive Rampaul ahead of himself, Pollard or Benn. Wright duly tucks in, cranking six over midwicket and six more smeared over long-on. A single skewed off the no-ball leaves Morgan to the free-hit, with Morgan pinpointing the freebie high and hard over the plighted pace bowler's head for yet another six. Rampaul's length is an awful affair and deserves every bit of punishment it gets. The Shot of the Tournament follows, with dashing Morgan whipping out a reverse paddle-sweep with absolutely no footwork whatsoever for four over short third man-cum-short fine-leg. Sensational stuff, indeed. 27 runs off the over. Ouch, Windies, ouch.

Over 17 Bravo 0-4-1lb-1-2-6 145-4 - Bravo over-pitches and Morgan punishes four as straight as an arrow before a hack at the slower ball leaves the English duo to scramble a leg-bye and then some to bring up their half-century partnership. Keen to make the stand count, Morgan adds six to it with a massive heave over midwicket to close another fruitful over for Collingwood's crew.

Over 16 Pollard 6-1-2-1-6-0 131-4 - Pollard's plighted entry into the attack allows Wright the opportunity to tee off over Benn's head at long-on for six, after which he opts high and hard over midwicket for another six as the electronic scorecard takes a blow to its face. This 16-run over has put the English back on track after slowing down quite a lot since the departure of Kieswetter and Pietersen.

Over 15 Bravo 0-1-1-1-2-1 115-4 - England still can't find the fence and now is probably a good time to praise Fletcher, who has performed very well behind the stumps in Ramdin's absence today. Fletcher's just a stand-in wicketkeeper remember, with Ramdin losing his place to returning Gayle or additional spinner Benn.

Over 14 Sammy 1-1-1-0-0-1 109-4 - Morgan and Wright have hefty hopes of finding the fence, but a host of strong shots fail to find the gaps on the ropes. Hence, they must make do with mere singles skewed left, right and centre.

Over 13 Bravo 0-6-0-1-0-1 105-4 - Seamer Bravo enters the attack for the first time today, offering Morgan a rank long-hop as a loosener. The unorthodox left-hander's eyes light up as he goes on the pull, failing to middle but riding his luck for a massive top edge over fine-leg for six.

Over 12 Sammy 2-1wd-0-1-0-1-1 97-4 - Morgan almost holes out on the midwicket fence too but the ball plugs marginally short of the fielder, who was a touch sluggish running in from the fence. Other than that, it's more of the same single-riddle same from the former Irish star and Wright, as Windies continue to enjoy the ascendancy for now.

Over 11 Miller 1-0-0-0-1-1 91-4 - Somewhat hurt by the double blow in the previous over, Morgan and Wright steady the ship for the time being as Miller racks up some welcome (for the Windies, at least) economy.

Over 10 Sammy 1-0-W-1-6-W 88-4 - Collingwood has an attempt at the so-called Dil-scoop to no avail, instead copping a slower ball to the forearm. Wicket! It turns out as his second-last shot of the day, as his ultimate stroke proves his undoing. A poor smear across the line flatters to impress, as Sammy zips another off-cutter through the gate and onto the stumps. Morgan is in now, watching from the non-striker's end as Pietersen rocks back in his crease to thump six over midwicket. Wicket! He tries as much again, well and truly finding the middle of the bat but pinning it straight down the throat of Sarwan on the fence. That was an absolute rocket and the midwicket fielder has done tremendously well to hang onto that down the throat. Wright joins Morgan at the crease now, with their team going at 8.8 to the over at the halfway mark of their knock.

Over 9 Miller 0-1-1-2-1-0 80-2 - Miller pulls out of his delivery stride twice on trot, anticipating Pietersen's premature footwork. Umpire Hill has a word with the bowler and hopes for third time lucky, before a scampered single to short fine-leg and a sluggish direct-hit afford the England captain and extended stay at the crease. The Windies have managed to string together a couple of economical overs now.

Over 8 Sammy 1-1-1-0-0-1 75-2 - Hot on the heels of a wonderful all-round display against the Irish, seamer Sammy enters the attack in the hope of more of the same. Pietersen and Collingwood adjust their collective sights to the new bowler accordingly, milking a string of singles before the former is forced to dig out a couple of threatening yorkers.

Over 7 Miller 0-6-W-0-3-2 71-1 - Awesome timing and footwork from Kieswetter, who darts down the crease to loft six over extra cover. Wicket! That turns out to be his last scoring shot of the day though, as Miller whips in a bit of an 'arm' ball to strike the right-hander on the back pad dead in front of the stumps. Up goes the appeal and the finger, with Craig's departure making way for captain Collingwood. He gets off the mark with a cheeky dab to third man, robbed of a four by Sammy's superb slide'n'dive.

Over 6 Rampaul 0-6-1-1-1-0 60-1 - Gayle's decision to grant Rampaul another go cops instant stick, as Kieswetter goes straight and big over long-off again for six more. Rattled Ravi manages to keep it together for the duration of the over but England have posted the highest Powerplay score of the tourney.

Over 5 Miller 0-2-1-6-1-0 51-1 - With left-arm spinners very much Pietersen's Achilles heel, Gayle brings in another left-arm spinner. A mis-field at mid0off brings bonus runs for England before the first six of the match soars over long-off courtesy Kieswetter's lofty hitting. Collingwood's crew off to a great start here, and certainly on course to pip the par score of 140-odd.

Over 4 Gayle 1-4-1-W-4-1 41-1 - With Rampaul proving expensive and slower bowling clearly the order of the day, Gayle takes matters - and the ball - into his own hands. But he can't stop the flow of boundaries either, with Kieswetter lavishing some off-side fodder on the cut for four. With Lumb back on strike thanks to a scampered single, Lumb's day with the bat meets it's end. Wicket! Gayle offers plenty of brave flight and loop, flummoxing Lumb, who yorks himself in a halfhearted attempt to go over the top to the on-side. Down go the bails, off goes the left-hander and in comes daddy-to-be Pietersen, wh insists he will leave mid-match if his beloved wife goes into labour in London. For now though, he is off the mark in a flash, offering a Test match-esque cover drive for four.

Over 3 Benn 4-4-1-0-0-0 30-0 - In at short midwicket, Gayle puts in the dive to his left but can't stop Lumb from flicking back-to-back boundaries through the on-side. The Windies are quickly forced to rethink their field, straightening the midwicket fielder and asking Benn to approach from over the wicket. A casual single eventually offers Kieswetter some strike. He has clearly been at the non-striker's end for too long, as he takes in a couple of shaky sighters to end the over on the quiet.

Over 2 Rampaul 1wd-4-1wd-4-3nb-0-0-2-1 21-0 - The right-arm seamer kicks off his spell with a leg-side wide and is lucky Lumb does not get some bat on it for runs through fine-leg. He does get willow the the next delivery though, pulling his first international boundary through midwicket as Rampaul digs in a useless short ball. Erratic Ravi then offers far too much width to the off-side, with Lumb obliging another boundary on the front-foot drive. A no-ball hardly helps the bowler's cause either, but Lumb can't plank the subsequent free-hit over midwicket, instead missing the shot and looking the fool for it. Still not a ball faced for Kieswetter as Lumb hogs the strike again.

Over 1 Benn 0-0-2-2-0-1 5-0 - With Roach absent and spin first up fast becoming a tournament norm, Benn assumes the new-ball duties. Afforded a solitary slip and plenty of protection in the cover area, Benn darts in a probing line to Twenty20 Internatioanl debutant Lumb, who gets off the mark with a couple squirted through the off-side after a couple of sighters. Benn then over-corrects his length and cops two more through midwicket, with Lumb hogging the strike away from his fellow T20 International debutant.

Game On Pleasantries, more handshakes, dancing girls and the like out the way, Kieswetter and Lumb head out to the middle, followed by umpires Koertzen and Hill and the Windies XI.

Conditions Mum Nature is playing the game, with her sodden mood steering clear of the Providence Stadium for now. Pitch-wise, it'll continue to prove a turner with around 150 runs the par total.

Startings XIs West Indies: Chris Gayle, Andre Fletcher, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Narsingh Deonarine, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Nikita Miller, Sulieman Benn, Ravi Rampaul. England: Michael Lumb, Craig Kieswetter, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Luke Wright, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Mike Yardy, Ryan Sidebottom.

Team News Sulieman Benn and Gayle are back for the Windies, while Denesh Ramdin and Kemar Roach lose their places. Andre Fletcher will play wicketkeeper. England, indeed, go for Kieswetter and Lumb at the top of their knock and have opted for Ryan Sidebottom ahead of James Anderson.

Toss News from out in the middle reveals Chris Gayle has triumphed in the flip of the coin and West Indies will bowl first.

Let's Hear From You All comment welcome. Perhaps you fancy an opinion or two on England's new-look opening batting pair - Kieswetter and Lumb, both South African-born, by the way. Mail me at jonhenry.wilson@teamtalkmedia.co.za.

Earlier Today Mahela Jayawardene hammered a century as Sri Lanka won their rain-affected encounter against Zimbabwe.

Greetings Hello and welcome to our over-by-over commentary of the World Twenty20 Group D clash between the Windies and the English at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

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