Alex Hales hit 99 as England beat West Indies by seven wickets in the Twenty20 international at Trent Bridge.
The Nottinghamshire batsman was denied England’s first-ever T20 century when he was bowled by Ravi Rampaul with four runs needed to win.
Ravi Bopara made 59 from 43 balls as England chased down 173 with two balls to spare for only their third win in eight T20s against West Indies.
Earlier, Dwayne Smith hit 70 and Dwayne Bravo 54 not out for the tourists.
Hales, who became the first batsman ever to be dismissed on 99 in international T20 cricket, staked his claim to become the long-term successor to the retired Kevin Pietersen with an assured 68-ball innings, which included six fours and four sixes.
On a good batting track at Trent Bridge, West Indies survived the early loss of Chris Gayle to set a competitive target. The West Indies opener was caught on the fine leg boundary by Jonny Bairstow after being tempted to mistime an attempted hook to a Steven Finn bumper.
England looked in control after the six powerplay overs, with the visitors 29-2 after good spells from Finn and Jade Dernbach. But Gayle’s fellow opener Dwayne Smith got the West Indies innings back on track with a 54-ball 70 that included five sixes and five fours.
Two other West Indians with Indian Premier League experience, Bravo and Kieron Pollard (23 not out) then brought the score up to 172-4, with a partnership of 65 for the fifth wicket in just 28 balls.
BBC
