Mumbai, March 16 (IANS) England displayed an all-round batting performance to post a challenging total of 182/6 against the West Indies in a Group 1 World Twenty20 cricket clash at the Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday.
Put into bat on a green-top wicket, openers Alex Hales (27) and Jason Roy (15) gave England a positive start scoring 36 off the first four overs.
But medium pacer Andre Russell brought the first breakthrough in the third ball off the fifth over by dismissing Roy.
Incoming batsman Joe Root (48) along with opener Hales scored at a good pace from there on to bring up a 50-run partnership for the second wicket in just 34 balls and take the score past 80 in 10 overs.
But as Hales was looking good after striking four boundaries, off-spinner Sulieman Benn castled the right-handed batsman in the 12th over to reduce England to 92/2.
England received yet another blow as set batsman Root, looking good to bring up his half-century, fell short as he tried to go over the top and was eventually caught at mid-off by Jerome Taylor off the bowling off Russell.
England lost the momentum losing two wickets in quick succession reaching 114/3 in 14.2 overs.
A late assault by Jos Buttler (30 off 20), aided by skipper Eoin Morgan (27 not out off 14) and Ben Stokes (15 off 7) helped them reach a respectable total.
Andre Russell (2/36) and Dwayne Bravo (2-41) were the pick of bowlers for the West Indies.
Brief score: England 182/6 in 20 overs (Joe Root 48; Andre Russell 2-36, Dwayne Bravo 2-41)
