First game

Adil Rashid returned figures of 4-2 to set up a six-wicket victory for England after they dismissed defending champions West Indies for a paltry 55 at the Twenty20 World Cup last Saturday.

West Indies rattled England’s top order before Jos Buttler (24) and skipper Eoin Morgan (7) took the team home in 8.2 overs in Dubai.

Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein took two wickets and Moeen Ali was run out, but the target proved too meagre to challenge England.

Moeen opened the bowling for England with his off-spin and made an instant impact, first with a sharp running catch to remove Evin Lewis. He then got the wicket of Lendl Simmons.

Pace bowler Tymal Mills claimed two wickets including Chris Gayle, the only batsman to make double figures with his 13, as West Indies crumbled in a poor batting performance from the two-time champions.

Rashid entered the attack with West Indies on 44-6 and bowled the big-hitting Andre Russell for nought. He took two more wickets in successive balls in his next over and then wrapped up the innings.

He returned outstanding figures of 4-2 from his 2.2 overs of leg-spin.

Second Game

West Indies’ bid for a third ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup title were left in tatters after an explosive 56 from Evin Lewis failed to inspire them and they stumbled to an eight-wicket defeat against South Africa last Tuesday.

Lewis cracked three fours and six sixes from 35 balls and set a solid foundation, but the rest of the Windies batting again failed to ignite, and they ended on 143 for eight from 20 overs after they were put into bat at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

But the Caribbean side were unable to make inroads into the South African batting, and Aiden Markram hit an unbeaten 51 from 26 balls, Rassie van der Dussen supported with 43 not out and Reeza Hendricks made 39 from 30 balls to lead the Proteas to victory.

“It’s just a matter that we haven’t scored enough runs,” West Indies captain Kieron Pollard said. “Our batters so far on tour have not come to the party in terms of knowing what we can do, and again, it’s disappointing.

“I thought the first six overs, the end-result of 43 without loss and not losing wickets in the Power Play, we would have taken that, and then we expected to just keep that momentum going through the middle overs.