The West Indies Masters are on a roll after defeating the England Masters by a close margin of eight runs in the International Masters League (IML) 2025. Held at the dynamic DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, the Thursday night clash kept fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Electric Start by West Indies
No stranger to explosive starts, Captain Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith put on a show with an opening partnership that seemed like a masterclass in aggressive batting. In just seven overs, they accumulated a rapid 77 runs. Gayle, with his characteristic flair, smashed 39 off just 19 balls, while Smith made a brisk 35. Their performance set the stage for what looked like an imposing total.
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing. England's spin experts Chris Schofield and Monty Panesar had other plans. They disrupted the flow around the middle overs, leaving West Indies reeling at 113/5 by the 15th over. But then, cameos from Narsingh Deonarine, remaining not out with 35, and Ashley Nurse, contributing 29, revived the innings significantly. Their last five-over blitz added a vital 66 runs, pushing the West Indies Masters to a competitive total of 179/6.
England's Faltering Chase
England’s reply started shakily. Early breakthroughs by Ravi Rampaul and Jerome Taylor rattled their lineup, finding themselves in dire straits at 76/5 after just 10 overs. Although the odds seemed against them, a rearguard action led by Chris Schofield, scoring 32, along with Chris Tremlett's 26 helped stitch together a late 52-run stand that made the West Indies sweat a little.
But the comeback was short-lived as the West Indies bowlers, led by the wily Sulieman Benn with his tight 2/11 off four overs, held firm. Supported by Rampaul and Nurse, who bagged a couple of wickets each, they curtailed England to 171/8 by the end of their innings.
The win not only cemented West Indies' place in the ongoing Masters tournament but also highlighted the timeless skills of their players. The evening belonged to Benn, whose economical and incisive spell earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award. His clever bowling played a crucial role in scripting this thrilling victory, highlighting the resilience and tenacity that defines this West Indies side.
