WEST INDIES IN FINAL AGAINST NEW ZEALAND

by Oscar Ramjeet

 The West Indies cricket team has put up a magnificent performance at Lords on Tuesday against England to edge the home team out of the final in the triangle NAT tournament.

It was a high scoring match at the World's Cricketing Headquarters and the Windies passed the 285 for 7 put up by the Englishmen after losing only 3 wickets and with 5 balls to spare.

The Windies will meet New Zealand on Saturday in the final at Lords. England had a bad start when they lost both openers ME Trescothick and MP Vaughan for 27 runs and 27 runs later the third wicket fell, but the 4th wicket partnership between AJ Strauss and A Flintoff put up 226. Both Flintoff and Strauss scored centuries, but after they were dismissed two quick wickets fell, but England had already reached 285 which is a very tall order.

Chris Gayle claimed 3 wickets for 57 runs off his ten overs, and the young Jamaican also destroyed the English bowling when he scored 132 not out off 165 deliveries. Gayle was associated in a 187 second wicket partnership with vice captain Ramnaresh Sarwan who scored 89 off 78 balls.

Gayle struck 12 fours and a towering six in his brillant innings while Sarwan struck 9 fours in his classy and aggressive innings.

The performance of these two young players seem to indicate that there is a bright future in West Indies cricket. Ricardo Powell hit 33 not out off 22 deliveries with 3 fours and a lofty six.

The display of the Caribbean team brought comments from former Windies off spinner Lance Gibbs who followed the game from his Florida home. Gibbs, who was disappointed that Florida was not chosen as a venue for the 2007 World Cup Series said that the performance of Gayle, Sarwan and Powell was heartening and the youngsters should be complimented.

The West Indies bowlers were given some useful advice by two former pace bowlers Michael Holding and Courtney Walsh who were at the nets during the Windies practice session on Monday.