GEORGETOWN, April 19: Wicket-keeper Chris Read was England's saviour on Sunday as his three late sixes helped the tourists beat West Indies by two wickets in a thrilling opening to the One-day International series.
In a match reduced to 30 overs per side due to heavy rain in the run-up to the game, Read smashed 27 off 15 balls before Darren Gough hit the winning runs to see England to their target of 157 with three balls to spare. Chasing West Indies' total of 156 for five, England looked out of it as they slipped from 60 for two to 120 for seven.
But Read, dropped from the Test side ahead of the final match in Antigua, responded in style as he smashed three sixes and a four before Gough saw England home. England captain Michael Vaughan won the toss and put West Indies into bat.
Gough, recalled to the side, showed few signs of rust with a tight opening spell and made the early breakthrough, bowling Chris Gayle for two with just seven runs on the board. A slightly wayward Steve Harmison made way for Andrew Flintoff and he made immediate inroads.
With his second ball, Flintoff caught and bowled Ricardo Powell for 10 and then removed Ramnaresh Sarwan, standing in as captain for the injured Brian Lara, for a duck just two balls later to leave West Indies reeling on 25 for three.
Chanderpaul and Devon Smith added 39 for the fourth wicket before the latter was caught by Flintoff at short mid-wicket off Rikki Clarke for 16. But while others struggled, Chanderpaul, recalled to the side after missing the final Test, hit 11 fours and two sixes, including 17 off Paul Collingwood's only over, before he was fifth man out for 84.
England made a terrible start when Vaughan was bowled by Mervyn Dillon for a duck. Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss added 59 for the second wicket before Strauss was bowled by Dwayne Bravo.
Flintoff was caught behind off Gayle for eight and when Trescothick was bowled by Bravo for 26, England needed 75 from the last 10 overs. Paul Collingwood and Ian Blackwell took England past the 100 mark with some lofty blows but Collingwood then fell for 10.
Blackwell was then bowled by Ravi Rampaul for 27 and Clarke was run out for one before Read's heroics lifted England to the verge of victory.
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES:
C.H. Gayle b Gough 2
S. Chanderpaul c Clarke b Gough 84
R.L. Powell c and b Flintoff 10
R.R. Sarwan lbw b Flintoff 0
D.R. Smith c Flintoff b Clarke 16
S.C. Joseph not out 23
R.D. Jacobs not out 2
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-7, W-10, NB-1) 19
TOTAL (for five wkts, 30 overs) 156
FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-25, 3-25, 4-64, 5-151.
DID NOT BAT: D.D.J. Bravo, R. Rampaul, M. Dillon, C.D. Collymore.
