ICC World Twenty20: Root, Buttler to the fore

Joe Root smashed his way to a 36-ball 48 to power England to 182/6 against the West Indies in a Group 1 clash of the Super 10 round at Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday.

Alex Hales scored 28 at the top while Jos Butler (30) and skipper Eoin Morgan (27 not out) played their part in finishing the innings on a high.

Skipper Darren Sammy’s decision to field wasn’t complemented by his bowlers as they strayed in line often. The Caribbean side however were athletic in the field especially near the boundary line.

The stage was set with opening stand of 37 in 4.3 overs between Jason Roy and Hales. The two picked up momentum in the third over courtesy some wayward bowling from Jerome Taylor which saw six runs as wides and two boundaries to Roy.

Hales then got going with three consecutive boundaries of Samuel Badree in the next over.

Roy was first to go, flicking Andre Russell to Badree after his run-a-ball 15. Hales got stuck a bit but Root was on the move to ease the pressure.

SCORECOARD England: J. Roy c Badree b Russell 15, A. Hales b Benn 28, J. Root c Taylor b Russell 48, J. Buttler c Brathwaite b Bravo 30, E. Morgan (not out) 27, B. Stokes lbw b Bravo 15, M. Ali (run out) 7. Extras: (b 1, lb 1, w 10) 12. Total: (for 6 wkts, in 20 overs) 182.

FoW: 1-37, 2-92, 3-114, 4-152, 5-175, 6-182.

Bowling: Taylor 3-0-30-0 (3w), Badree 4-0-34-0 (1w), Russell 4-0-36-2 (1w), Bravo 4-0-41-2 (1w), Benn 3-0-23-1, Brathwaite 2-0-16-0