West Indies and England will be appearing in their second World Twenty20 final on Sunday in Kolkata. Whoever wins will become the first side to win this title more than once. Their routes to the final and styles have been contrasting and West Indies may choose to view their group win in Mumbai earlier as an edge. But England have bloomed after that loss. We look at five factors that hold the key to this game.
CHRIS GAYLE v ENGLAND
West Indies are not, and never have been, a one-man side. It is just that Gayle has been so larger-than-life in antics on and off the field that it has felt that way. But the point of Gayle is that when he does get going, he takes the match with him – as he did with his hundred against England in the group game. England will target him early, with full deliveries around or outside off. His other two innings in the tournament have fetched him just nine runs, each time bowled either on that line, or that length. As if to prove the point though, West Indies have won both those games.
BOUNDARY-HITTING v DOT BALL PERCENTAGE
West Indies have hit the most sixes in this tournament (36) since the start of the Super 10s, but also played out the highest percentage of dot balls (45.44%). They have proved that playing out dot balls in Twenty20 is not fatal to a batting side’s chances, and it is an approach much in the mould of Gayle himself. England, however, have taken arguably an even more destructively efficient approach. At 33.85%, they have the lowest percentage of dot balls apart from South Africa in the Super 10s stage. But they are second only to the West Indies in the number of sixes hit (34) since the start of the Super 10s stage and percentage of runs scored in boundaries overall (62.93). They also have the highest run-rate in the tournament (9.12).
ENGLAND AT THE DEATH
England’s bowling was thought to be their Achilles heel coming into the tournament, mostly because they looked hittable. To an extent – though not enough to really hurt them – that has been true. As a unit, they concede 8.68 runs per over, the worst of all teams But it has improved as they have progressed and their death bowling has been, at times, outstanding. Chris Jordan and Ben Stokes have been outstanding with their bowling at the death. In sequence, from the 15th over, they have conceded 37 (in 3.1 overs), 63, 44, 50 and 32. In some cases, they have been good through the stretch. In others, they have conjured a great over or two when it mattered. If they get to what is an undercooked lower middle order for West Indies, it could make a huge difference.
SPIN IT TO WIN IT
West Indies have the upper hand. Samuel Badree and Suleiman Benn have done wonders, with economy rates of 5.68 and 5.78 respectively. Badree’s skidding small-turning leggies have brought seven wickets and even though Benn has only two, he has been the ideal foil; across the middle of an innings, England will have to find a way to profit. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid have the same number of wickets but at economy rates of 9.13 and 9.35 respectively. More importantly, Gayle went after both in their group game, the pair conceding 58 in their six overs. If Gayle survives early this is where he will try to cash in.
CAPTAIN v CAPTAIN
On a personal level, Darren Sammy and Eoin Morgan have had tournaments to forget. The former has barely had an active role to play other than as fielder – he has bowled just two overs and batted 11 balls. Morgan has just 61 runs from five innings and two golden ducks. It has not affected either man or team unduly but especially because Morgan bats higher, there will be pressure on him to contribute in the final.