Cricket

England's bowlers toiled hard but West Indies openers Brandon King and Keacy Carty put on a solid partnership to keep their team in the hunt in the second T20I at Kensington Oval.King led the charge with a commanding half-century, reaching the milestone with a boundary off Adil Rashid in the 19th over. Carty provided able support, contributing valuable runs throughout the innings.The West Indies openers started cautiously, with King and Carty scoring singles and twos in the early overs. However, they gradually grew in confidence and began to take on the England bowlers.King was particularly impressive, showcasing his power and timing with a series of boundaries. He reached his fifty off just 34 deliveries, including six fours and a six. Carty, on the other hand, played a more measured innings, rotating the strike and finding gaps in the field.England's bowlers struggled to contain the West Indies duo, with Jofra Archer and Sam Curran proving expensive. Rashid provided some respite with his leg-spin, but King and Carty were able to negotiate his deliveries with relative ease.As the innings progressed, the West Indies openers began to take more risks. King smashed a six off Rashid in the 17th over, while Carty hit a boundary off Liam Livingstone in the 16th.The partnership was eventually broken in the 20th over when King was caught at deep mid-wicket off Archer for 56. However, Carty remained unbeaten on 33, ensuring that the West Indies finished on a strong note.The West Indies will be pleased with their start to the innings, but they will need to continue to build on this platform and set a challenging total for England to chase.

West Indies' T20 World Cup campaign has suffered a major setback with the loss of opening batter Brandon King to a side strain. King sustained the injury during the team's Super Eight loss to England on June 19 and has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.King's absence is a significant blow to the West Indies, as he has been their leading run-scorer in T20Is since the start of 2023. He has amassed 651 runs in 23 innings, including four fifties. King was also the highest run-scorer in the team's 3-0 T20I series sweep over South Africa heading into the tournament.In King's place, left-hand opening batter Kyle Mayers has been called up to the squad. Mayers has played 37 T20Is and was considered unfortunate to miss the initial cut for the World Cup. He has had a decent 2024, scoring 367 runs in 11 T20 games at a strike rate of 155.50. Mayers is expected to join the squad on Saturday.King's injury occurred during the third over of West Indies' chase against England. He smashed a 101-metre six off Reece Topley but injured himself while attempting to charge down the track to hit Sam Curran through cover. King received treatment from the medical staff but was unable to continue and retired hurt on 23.West Indies went on to lose the match by eight wickets, and King did not field in the run-chase. He traveled to Barbados for the team's Super Eight fixture against USA on Friday, awaiting the results of his MRI scans. However, the scans revealed the extent of his injury, ruling him out of the tournament.The West Indies have won four out of four games in the group stage but started the Super Eight with a loss to England. After their USA fixture on Friday, they will play South Africa on Sunday in North Sound, Antigua.

Brandon King's T20 World Cup campaign hangs in the balance after the West Indies opener suffered a side strain in their match against England. King, who has been a key player for the Windies, was forced to retire hurt after just 12 balls in the match.The injury occurred while King was attempting to hit Sam Curran through cover. He took one step and then crumpled to the ground, clutching his side. He received treatment from the West Indies medical staff but was unable to continue batting.Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that King had been diagnosed with a side strain. "Brandon King has suffered a side strain and will not return to the field of play in this evening's match," CWI said.Side strains typically take several weeks to heal, making King a major doubt for the rest of the World Cup. The tournament ends in just 10 days, and the Windies have only one more match remaining in the Super Eight stage.King's injury is a significant blow to the West Indies, who are already without several key players. Rovman Powell is still at the IPL, while Andre Russell and Obed McCoy have been ruled out of the tournament with injuries.The Windies have five players on standby for the World Cup: Andre Fletcher, Kyle Mayers, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh Jr., and Matthew Forde. Mayers is the most likely replacement for King, having been widely considered unfortunate to miss the initial cut.The West Indies will travel to Barbados on Thursday ahead of their second Super Eight fixture against USA at Kensington Oval on Friday. They will be hoping to bounce back from their defeat to England and keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.

West Indies, co-hosts of the upcoming T20 World Cup, showcased their dominance with a commanding 28-run victory over South Africa in their final warm-up match. Despite fielding a depleted squad, West Indies displayed their resilience and home-ground advantage at Sabina Park.Brandon King, captaining in place of Rovman Powell, led the charge with a blistering 79 off 45 deliveries. His aggressive innings, coupled with a 79-run partnership with Kyle Mayers, laid the foundation for West Indies' strong start. However, a late batting collapse saw them lose six wickets for 40 runs, finishing on 175 for 8.South Africa's bowling attack, led by debutant Ottneil Baartman and Andile Phehlukwayo, staged a remarkable comeback. Baartman, despite an early injury scare, claimed three wickets for 26 runs, while Phehlukwayo also bagged three wickets in his four-over spell.South Africa's top order struggled to gain momentum, with Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton failing to reach double figures. Reeza Hendricks emerged as the lone bright spot, scoring a career-best 87 off 51 balls. However, his late surge proved insufficient as Gudakesh Motie and Obed McCoy restricted South Africa's chase, dismissing them for 147 in the final over.King's impressive performance on his home ground highlighted his leadership qualities and aggressive batting style. His ability to dominate the strike and score boundaries early on set the tone for West Indies' innings.Despite a strong start, West Indies' middle order failed to capitalize on King's efforts. Andre Fletcher, Fabian Allen, Akeal Hosein, and Matthew Forde all fell cheaply, leaving Motie to be run out in the final over.Forde, who had struggled in his previous T20I appearance, redeemed himself with the crucial wicket of de Kock. His wide delivery outside off stump forced de Kock to nick behind, giving West Indies an early breakthrough.Hendricks' half-century was a testament to his consistent form in T20 cricket. His ability to time the ball early on and switch to power hitting later in the innings showcased his versatility. However, his efforts came too late to prevent South Africa's defeat.

Brandon King will lead the West Indies in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa, which serves as a crucial preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The series will provide an opportunity for players to showcase their skills and secure their place in the final squad or reserve pool.Full-time captain Rovman Powell will be absent due to his commitments with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Several other key players, including Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, and Sherfane Rutherford, will also miss the series due to IPL involvement or rest following the tournament.Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope, who represented Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals in the IPL, have been rested. However, Joseph and Rutherford will join the T20I squad if their IPL teams fail to reach the final.Matthew Forde and Kyle Mayers, who were on the cusp of selection for the T20 World Cup, will feature against South Africa. Their performances in the series could determine their status as first reserves in case of injuries during the tournament.King was initially set to lead West Indies A on their recent tour of Nepal but was ruled out due to injury. Roston Chase took over the captaincy in his absence."These matches are crucial for our preparation ahead of the World Cup," said lead selector Desmond Haynes. "Players have the chance to refine their skills and ensure they are ready for the tournament."Head coach Daren Sammy emphasized the importance of team cohesion and momentum heading into the World Cup. "We haven't played together since the Australia series, but we've had an intense training camp in Antigua," he said. "Now we can integrate our IPL players and build momentum as a group."The series could mark the T20I debut of fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who has been included in the World Cup squad. He made only one appearance for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL.After facing South Africa, West Indies will play a warm-up match against Australia on May 30.