West Indies beat England to progress

The West Indies (82-5) beat England (161-6) by five wickets in a rain-shortened match at the Oval yesterday to qualify for the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 and knock out the hosts.

England were steered to their average total by Ravi Bopara's 55 from 47 balls, with contributions from Kevin Pietersen (31) and Owais Shah (18), but after rain disrupted the chance of a full West Indies innings their Duckworth-Lewis adjusted target was set at 80 off nine overs.

Fletcher fell in the first over for his third consecutive duck, then dangerman Chris Gayle went the next for 15 off eight balls. Wickets continued to fall but the run rate was maintained at nine an over and Chanderpaul and Sarwan saw the Windies home with four balls to spare.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Mike Selvey, the Guardian: "It was a cruel way to be hoofed out of a tournament, especially in one that has been spectacularly good at dodging the bad weather. With all wickets in hand, the asking rate of under 10 an over for such a short time is by no means a difficult one. England made a good start, getting rid of Andre Fletcher without scoring, his third successive nought, and Gayle, who was superbly yorked by Sidebottom after three searing boundaries."

Richard Hobson, the Times: "Time that England have spent bowling at Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul this year could be measured in weeks rather than days or hours, but none of their previous encounters can have been as disappointing as the 20 minutes that the pair of little Guyanese spent together last night. The rum in Georgetown must have tasted sweet as pictures of their short, sharp, match-winning stand flashed across the Atlantic."

Nick Hoult, Daily Telegraph: "Beaten and bruised by a difficult Test and one-day tour, this was a motivated West Indies team who hunted down 80 to win off nine nerve-fraying overs on a ground that has seen so many Caribbean parties in the past. As for England, their time in this tournament has been one for the adrenalin junkies. They have been involved in three tense finishes and massive highs and crushing lows have made it a ride for those with a strong constitution. With that in mind, there could be no more fitting way to exit the tournament than in a rain-shortened slog out." ·