A spin mauling by West Indies left England 30 runs short at Wankhede, but captain-for-the-day Harry Brook is backing his troops unreservedly. Dismissing any frustration over batting against tweakers, he eyes quick fixes.
Post-game, Brook declared, ‘Not disappointed at all with our spin play. We’ll mull it over and return stronger.’ Moments earlier, he’d been outsmarted by Motie, one of seven batsmen undone by WI tweakers in a one-sided affair.
West Indies’ spin trio – Motie (3-33), Chase (2-29), and Hosein (1-32) – applied the stranglehold, sparking a chain of dismissals. England, chasing 197 after bowling first, stuttered to 166 despite Curran’s defiant 43*.
Rutherford’s 76* off 42 anchored WI’s 196/6. England’s prior Nepal win now feels distant as spin deficiencies glare.
Brook’s cool-headedness could prove pivotal, signaling resilience in a tournament where adaptation is key. Expect England to tweak strategies sharply before facing stiffer opposition.