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England CWC dream alive

Chennai - Luke Wright kept England's Cricket World Cup hopes alive by hitting 44 runs against the West Indies on his tournament debut in his side's must-win Group B match at the Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday.

Wright, in at 134 for five, made a key contribution to England's 243 all out. Jonathan Trott (47) was the only other batsman who managed more than 40 after Andrew Strauss won the toss and batted.

Wright and fellow World Cup debutant James Tredwell shared a seventh-wicket stand of 41 after England had slumped to 151 for six.

West Indies saw their decision to give leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo a one-day international debut vindicated by a return of three for 34 from 10 overs.

And fast bowler Andre Russell took wickets at both ends of the innings to finish with four for 49 as England failed to bat out their overs.

But senior spinner Sulieman Benn's 10 wicketless overs cost 56.

England have to win this match in order to have a shot at reaching the quarter-finals -- and even then other results would have to go their way.

Defeat would spell the end of their World Cup and ensure the West Indies and co-hosts India and Bangladesh join South Africa in the knockout stages.

England can take heart from their previous group match on a bowler-friendly Chidamabaram pitch, where they successfully defended just 171 to beat South Africa by six runs.

Trott, belying his reputation as a steady accumulator, made a blistering start after Russell bowled Matt Prior.

Trott struck six boundaries off his first nine balls, including a superb cover-drive off West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

Strauss fell for 31 when he top-edged a pull off Russell and the fit-again Chris Gayle, running around from midwicket, held a fine catch.

Bishoo, only at the World Cup as an injury replacement for all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, dismissed Trott when he closed the face too early and chipped a simple catch to Gayle at mid-wicket.

England then saw their fourth and fifth wickets fall on 134.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach knocked back Ian Bell's off-stump and Bishoo had left-hander Eoin Morgan gloving an attempted reverse-sweep to wicketkeeper Devon Thomas.

Wright, after Tredwell was run out, exited when he holed out off Bishoo.


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