Welcome to the highlights of West Indies vs England - The final match of the 1997 Akai-Singer Champions Trophy quadrangular One-Day International cricket tournament between West Indies and England was played at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah on December 19, 1997.
 |
| Brian Lara congratulates Graham Thorpe after England win © G Chadwick/AllSport UK Ltd |
Match Overview:
All-round display by Matthew Fleming's three-wickets with a quick-fire 33, Half-centuries from Alec Stewart and Graham Thorpe leads to England tense three-wicket victory over West Indies and clinch the title in the final clash of a Akai-Singer Champions Trophy.
Match Report:
England, spurred by a match-winning stand between Graham Thorpe and Matthew Fleming, staged a remarkable recovery to lift the Champions' Trophy.
Thorpe, who hit an unbeaten 66, and all-rounder Fleming, with a quick-fire 33, put on 70 for the seventh wicket as England beat West Indies by three wickets in the floodlight final.
England, having needed 73 from the last 10 of their 50 overs, triumphed with 11 balls to spare at 239 for seven in reply to West Indies' 235 for seven.
Perhaps it would be fairer to say that West Indies insisted on England winning the match because they put up one of the most inept performances in their history after having the game sewn up.
West Indies won the toss, a I considerable advantage on a pitch that got slower through- out the match, to set a target which seemed beyond England when they slipped to 152 for five with only 13 overs left.
But Thorpe, their only remaining test batsman, stayed in for the rest of the innings and Fleming, with the 007 background through his great uncle, author author Ian Fleming, produced a blazing effort in the James Bond mould.
Fleming, who had taken three for 42 and run out West Indies' top scorer Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 76, smashed 34 off only 27 balls as the West Indian out-cricket disintegrated.
The attack conceded 30 extras, including five wides and eight no-balls, as Thorpe and Fleming put on their 70 in seven overs.
Chanderpaul had a hand injury which prevented him bowling the leg breaks which finished off the Indian batting in the final qualifying match, and wicketkeeper David Williams was handicapped by a suspected broken little finger in his left hand.
West Indies' total was based on an opening stand of 97 between Stuart Williams (55) and Chanderpaul. Although Brian Lara went for two, Carl Hooper (34) and Phil Simmons, who lashed 39 not out, provided a timely flourish.
India and Pakistan were eliminated from the four-team tournament after the round-robin stage.
In-Depth Match Highlights:
West Indies scored 235-7 in 50 overs with top scorer by Shivnarine Chanderpaul cracked a 76 off 109-balls including 4-fours & a six.
Stuart Williams struck 55 off 67-balls including 6-fours, Phil Simmons hit a unbeaten 39 off 37-balls included 3-fours.
Carl Hooper cracked a 34 off 52-balls including a boundary and Rawl Lewis scored 16 off 17-balls contained a four.
England best bowler by Matthew Fleming picked up 3-wickets for 42-runs in 8-overs, Mark Ealham and Robert Croft both took one-wickets.
England chase down the target of 236, finishing at 239 for 7 in 48.1 overs with top scorer by Graham Thorpe cracked a unbeaten 66 off 74-balls including 5-fours.
Alec Stewart struck 51 off 67-balls including 3-fours, Matthew Fleming blasted a 33 off 26-balls included three-fours with strike rate of 126.92.
Nick Knight cracked a 24 off 59-balls including a boundary and Adam Hollioake scored 16 off 40-balls without a boundary.
West Indies best bowler by Carl Hooper captured two-wickets, Franklyn Rose, Courtney Walsh and Rawl Lewis each took one-wickets.
Graham Thorpe named Player of the match for his match-winning superb unbeaten 66 off 74-balls including 5-fours.
Carl Hooper earned player of the tournament for his all-round performance to took 8 wickets and contributing 189 runs.
: