West Indies edged out defending champions England by 15 runs in an exciting finish to the World Twenty20 Super Eight Group One match at Pallekele stadium yesterday
Chasing a daunting 180-run target, England came close with Eoin Morgan (71 not out) and Alex Hales (68) putting on a resolute 107-run partnership for the third wicket but in the end they fell short.
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England had lost Craig Kieswetter and Luke Wright for first over ducks but Hales, who hit five boundaries and two sixes off his 51 balls, and Morgan’s 36-ball knock, with five sixes and four boundaries, defied West Indies's four-pronged spin attack.
West Indies were set on their way for a big total by openers Johnson Charles and Chris Gayle.
Charles smashed three sixes and 10 well-timed fours in his 56-ball 84 while Gayle hit four sixes and six fours in his 35-ball 58.