England was dumped out the NatWest Series by the West Indies Tuesday as Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan overcame centuries from Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Strauss to lead their team to an exciting, seven-wicket win at Lord's.
The West Indies' triumph earned them a place in Saturday's final alongside New Zealand at the expense of the hosts.
Opener Gayle's magnificent unbeaten 132 off 165 balls anchored the run chase as the West Indies reached their formidable victory target at 286 for three with five balls to spare.
Sarwan scorched 89 off 78 deliveries to rev up the chase in a run-a-ball stand of 187 with man-of-the-match Gayle.
Earlier, Flintoff's bruising 123 off 104 balls and Strauss' even 100 thrilled a capacity crowd of 25,000.
The pair rebuilt the England innings from the peril of 54 for three in the 19th over to lead them to 285 for seven of 50 overs.
The hosts reduced the West Indies to 15 for one in the seventh over to further lift home hopes.
Darren Gough made the breakthrough as Devon Smith edged to wicket-keeper Geraint Jones.
But 24-year-old Gayle and Sarwan utilized a true batting pitch and a lightning-fast outfield with some sparkling strokes.
England was guilty of letting off both batsmen early in their innings but the chances were difficult ones.
Gayle was on 19 when Strauss missed a diving left-handed chance at extra cover off Gough. Sarwan was on 16 when his firm drive was missed in the follow through by fast bowler James Anderson.
After that, there were a half dozen scares for the pair through missed run out chances as they tried to accelerate the innings.
Sarwan eventually fell at 202 for two in the 38th over when in sight of a century. The 24-year-old right-hander nicked an Anderson slower ball to the wicket-keeper after lashing nine boundaries.
When Anderson accounted for the key scalp of captain Brian Lara two overs later, England sensed a way back. Lara, too, edged a drive to gloveman Jones after scoring 10 off 12 balls.
But Ricardo Powell (33 not out) provided Gayle with enterprising support and added an unbroken 68 off just 48 balls to see the Caribbean men home.
Gayle's ninth one-day century, in his 100th match, was spiced with 12 fours and a six.
Earlier, Flintoff and Strauss shared a frantic, record-breaking partnership to lift England from early trouble. It was Flintoff's second century in three days following his 106 in another losing cause against New Zealand at Bristol on Tuesday.
Strauss hit eight fours and two sixes on his way to his maiden one-day century.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just