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England’s great escape stuns Graeme Swann
Spinner thought World Cup hopes were “dead” before dramatic late victory
Graeme Swann has admitted he thought England’s World Cup dream was "dead" just moments before a stunning late rally saw the team defeat the West Indies yesterday, keeping alive their hopes of progressing into the tournament’s knockout rounds.
"I’d given that one up for dead five minutes ago," the spinner said after the match. "I thought we’ve had that many close games that it was just not going to happen. I did honestly [think England would lose]. I thought 'It's one of those nights’... It was up there with Ashes for raw emotion".
The West Indies appeared to be cruising to victory in the 41st over, just 21 runs short of England’s 243 total with 4 wickets still intact. However a remarkable spell by England’s spinners dramatically turned the match in England’s favour.
World Cup debutant James Tredwell trapped top scorer Russell LBW before Swann took two wickets in the following over. A run-out from Jonathan Trott, whose 38th over catch had been controversially ruled out after the brim of his sunhat appeared to touch the boundary rope, completed the remarkable victory.
"After Trott's 'catch', it was easy for heads to possibly drop at that stage," captain Andrew Struass reflected. "But the guys were remarkably buoyant all the way through. I think we really felt that something was going to happen - and thankfully, it did."
Provided either West Indies or Bangladesh fail to win their final group match this weekend, England will progress to the knockouts and be just two victories away from the World Cup Final. ·
