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Five-star Woakes blows through Windies

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Chris Woakes' five scalps propelled England to a comfortable nine-wicket win over West Indies in their opening World Cup warm-up match.

Woakes narrowly missed out on a hat-trick in the first over and England were never unduly tested thereafter as they skittled the Windies for 122 in 29.3 overs.

Eoin Morgan’s side then needed only their top three batsmen, led by Moeen Ali's 46, to complete a routine chase within 23 overs and before the Sydney Cricket Ground lights had warmed into full beam.

England had declared their intention to win both of their warm-up games before Saturday's World Cup opener against Australia, although they might have wished for more resistance as they put the finishing touches on their preparations for the white-hot atmosphere of a Melbourne Cricket Ground full house.

England rested frontline seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad, but they were hardly missed after West Indies' 23-year-old skipper Jason Holder elected to bat first on a green-tinged wicket.

It was a decision he was soon ruing as England ran riot, led by Woakes who found noticeable carry and movement.

The Warwickshire right-armer took three deliveries to strike, kissing the gloves of Chris Gayle as the ball got big on him down the leg side to remove the dangerman for a first-ball duck.

Darren Bravo lasted no longer as he nicked a vicious off-cutter and Woakes might have had a hat-trick as Marlon Samuels fended just inside the next ball.

Chris Woakes makes Darren Bravo his second wicket in two balls during the day's first over as his 5-19 skittled West Indies for 122

West Indies then lost wickets off successive deliveries again to slip to 35 for four.

Woakes had Dwayne Smith caught by Ian Bell at second slip before Samuels swiped at Steven Finn at the start of the next over.

It was the type of shot selection that hinted the Windies were not fully invested in a contest that was granted unofficial status with both sides able to play all 15 members from their World Cup squads.

England, however, decided to stick with a tradition 11-man line-up, with Chris Jordan and spinner James Tredwell drafted in from the team that lost the Tri-Series final to Australia in Perth last week.

The two new faces were next to strike as Jordan bowled Denesh Ramdin and Tredwell's first delivery squirmed through Jonathan Carter.

Moeen Ali gives England a smooth start to the chase with 46 in less than the hour and 10 minutes possible before the interval at the SCG

Ravi Bopara got his name on the wicket-taker's list too when Darren Sammy slapped him to Tredwell at mid-on.

West Indies enjoyed few moments to savour but - when Lendl Simmons crunched Tredwell into the second tier of the Members' Pavilion - they at least reached three figures.

Tredwell would have the last laugh, though, scooping up a sharp chance at short cover off Woakes after Simmons had managed a face-saving 45 for his team.

The end was close for West Indies and Holder nicked Finn to Bell for his second catch in the cordon before Woakes completed his five-wicket haul as Andre Russell obligingly heaved a swipe to Jordan, who was stationed on the cover rope for the shot.

West Indies' early demise left England with an hour and 10 minutes to bat before the break, and they used the time to break the back of the chase.

Andre Russell cuts a notable figure as England straightforwardly knocked off the runs inside 23 overs before the floodlights fully kicked in

Moeen did the majority of the spadework with a brisk 46, which included nine boundaries, from 43 balls.

He was offered a reprieve to sum up the Windies' afternoon when, on just seven, he carved Holder to gully only for replays to reveal the skipper had delivered a no-ball.

While Moeen fell just before the interval, after a 70-run opening stand with Bell, England were already well on their way needing just 43 from 36 overs when play resumed.

It took just 40 more minutes to complete the job, with Bell and James Taylor unbeaten on 35 and 25 respectively, and England content to have claimed the win they had targeted before Wednesday's final warm-up game against Pakistan at the same venue.


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