AFP, Bridgetown :
Sheldon Cottrell marked his return to the West Indies team with a five-wicket haul as the home side snatched a series-levelling 26-run victory over England in the second one-day international of a five-match series at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Friday.
Dropped for the curtain-raiser two days earlier where the English cantered to a six-wicket win in a high-scoring fixture, the 29-year-old Jamaican left-arm fast bowler returned figures of five for 46 as the top-ranked visitors lost their last six wickets for 35 runs to be dismissed for 263 in response to what looked a comparatively modest West Indies total of 289 for six.
“You need options in this day and age and Cottrell gave us that extra bit of variation with the ball,” said West Indies skipper Jason Holder of his match-winning bowler amid the victory celebrations.
“I love his energy. His is one for the future. It’s really good to see so many of these players stepping up.”
Shimron Hetmyer’s unbeaten 104 gave a labouring West Indies innings late impetus when they batted first but it looked to be in vain with England seeming to have the match well in control at 228 for four in the 40th over with Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler entrenched.
Earlier Cottrell had an immediate impact with the ball when he removed openers Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, man of the match in the first ODI, in his first two overs.
He also accounted for England captain Eoin Morgan for a well-played 70, although it seemed at that stage the tourists’ batting depth was more than enough to take them to the target.
For all of Cottrell’s heroics, it was Holder who turned the match on its head with ten overs left.
He had Stokes caught behind for a top score of 79 and then removed Buttler in his next over.
