Smith leads Windies revival against England

NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom (AFP) –

West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith is dismissed, scoring 70 runs, during the Twenty20 match between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Smith’s career-best 70 was the cornerstone of West Indies’ 172 for four against England in their lone Twenty20 international against England at Trent Bridge.

Dwayne Smith’s career-best 70 was the cornerstone of West Indies’ 172 for four against England in their lone Twenty20 international against England at Trent Bridge on Sunday.

The West Indies, looking to salvage some pride at the last this tour after losing Test and one-day series to England, were in deep trouble at 57 for three at the 10-over half-way point of their innings after opting to bat first against the World Twenty20 champions.

But 29-year-old Barbados opener Smith hit back with a 54-ball knock featuring five sixes and five fours as he topped his previous best at this level of 63 against Australia at his Bridgetown home ground in March.

Together with Dwayne Bravo, he put on 77 in 55 balls for the fourth wicket.

Bravo, 54 not out, then added an unbroken 65 with Kieron Pollard (23 not out) as the West Indies scored 107 runs in the final eight overs of the innings.

England struck an early blow when they removed dangerman Chris Gayle for just two after he top-edged a pull off a Steven Finn bouncer to Jonathan Bairstow, running round from fine leg.

Stuart Broad, England’s Twenty20 captain, marked his 26th birthday Sunday when, after coming on as first change he took a wicket with his first ball.

Lendl Simmons pulled a short ball and Bairstow, running in from deep square leg to mid-wicket, ignored the back-tracking Alex Hales and held the low catch.

But Smith struck off-spinner Graeme Swann for two fours in successive balls and then drove left-arm spinner Samit Patel for the first six of the match.

Smith completed his fifty when a pick-up shot off Broad sailed over the rope.

And three balls later Smith drove fast-medium bowler Broad for a magnificent straight six.

Smith sent the first ball of the 16th over from Finn over long-on for six.

But next ball, deceived by a wider and slow delivery, he was caught behind off the Middlesex quick, who led the attack with two for 22 in his four overs.

Bravo smashed seamer Jade Dernbach over mid-wicket and next ball lofted the seamer high over extra-cover for two impressives sixes, with Pollard bringing up the 150 with yet another huge six, this time over mid-wicket off Broad.