Sports
Emotions more than cricket in Windies-England tie tomorrow
Bridgetown Barbados | April 21, 2007 1:43:08 AM IST
As England take on hosts West Indies for the last match of the Super Eight league of the World Cup tomorrow, it will be more of emotion than cricket. While on one hand Brain Lara will walk out for one last time to the middle thus bringing down the curtains to his illustrious career spanning more than 16 years, there will be Duncan Fletcher guiding England for the last time after an eventful seven years at the helm. Although both the teams have no chance of making it to the semi-finals as they have defeated only Bangladesh in Super Eight league while losing to all others, they are not going to take it lightly and are expected to go full stretch to win. ''We would like to win because we would like to give parting gift to our coach Fletcher. And a last win before we leave the World Cup stage would be a perfect one,'' said England captain Michael Vaughan, acknowledging that his own job is also at stake. A similar opinion was voiced by vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan who fielded questions of journalists instead of Brian Lara. Lara has an uncanny habit of producing big innings whenever he plays against England. His world records 375 (before being erased by Matthew Hayden) and 400 came against England and that is why Vaughan is worried that Lara can play one of those majestic innings. ''It will be a privilege to watch but we would like to win,'' he said. Both the teams have another reason to go for a win. They are meeting again for another series in just 20 days time. So before that series, a victory will give a psychological edge to the winning side. ''If we win we will have great advantage as we know that England team has been struggling these days,'' said Sarwan. As Kensington Oval is expected to help pace bowlers, Lara would like to use his firepower one last time on this wicket. He has Daren Powell, Corey Collymore and Jerome Taylor besides Dwayne Bravo to rattle England batting lineup before a sell out home crowd. England will be banking heavily on Sajid Mehmood, Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson for generating pace. They did click against Bangladesh but they would be twice wary after the thrashing they received at the hands of South Africa. UNI MT PDS KP1838
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