Caribbean rain ravages England

West Indies won through to the second round of the World Twenty20 after beating England by eight wickets in a match whose context was completely changed by rain here on Monday.

West Indies won through to the second round of the World Twenty20 after beating England by eight wickets in a match whose context was completely changed by rain here on Monday.

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England made a challenging total of 191 for five, featuring 55 from former Ireland batsman Eoin Morgan, after being sent-in to bat by West Indies captain Chris Gayle.

But rain, which had interrupted Sri Lanka’s match against Zimbabwe here earlier in the day, returned after the West Indies had started their reply in barnstorming fashion to be 30 without loss at the Guyana National Stadium.

And when play resumed, the West Indies were left with a revised target of 60 in six overs, under the Duckworth/Lewis method for rain-affected matches. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (15 not out) and Andre Fletcher (12 not out) saw the hosts to victory with a ball to spare as they scored the eight runs they needed off the last over, from fast bowler Stuart Broad.

Left-hander Morgan faced just 35 balls and struck three sixes and six fours.

Together with Luke Wright, unbeaten on 45 off 27 balls, he put on 95 for the fifth wicket.

England started well thanks to their new South Africa born opening pair of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter.

Lumb, on his international debut, took 16 off one Ravi Rampaul over. Fast bowler Rampaul's three overs cost a hugely expensive 52 runs in total. Wicketkeeper Kieswetter struck three sixes in as many balls, one off Rampaul and two off Nikita Miller.

But in-form West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy checked England’s progress with two wickets in the tenth over, bowling England captain Paul Collingwood for six and inducing Kevin Pietersen (24) to hole out to midwicket.

With England 88 for four at the halfway mark, Morgan and Wright consolidated before going for their shots.