West Indies‘ title defence at the ongoing T20 World Cup started in the worst possible fashion as England chased down a paltry 56-run target with six wickets to spare in the Super 12 Group 1 match in Dubai on Saturday.  

The defending champions were skittled out for just 55 runs, the third lowest total in T20 World Cup history and the lowest by a full ICC member nation, as the English spinners ran riot at the Dubai International Stadium. 

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It was expected to be an exciting battle between the West Indies’ flair and a capable England attack but was reduced to a no-contest following a horrendous batting display by the defending champions, who were skittled out for just 55 runs in inside 15 overs.

The West Indies batters only looked for big shots and that became their undoing as they seemed to have forgotten that rotating the strike was important when boundaries were difficult to come by.

England bowlers were persistent with their line and length and were rewarded as West Indies managed their second lowest T20 total after 45 they made against the same opponents in 2019.

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It was also the third lowest total in T20 World Cup behind 39 and 44 (both by Netherlands).

England knocked off the required runs in 8.2 overs but not before they too lost wickets in cluster.

Jason Roy (11), Jonny Bairstow (9), Moeen Ali (3) and Liam Livingstone (1) struggled to adjust to the slowness of the wicket that had made stroke making quite difficult.

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Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (2/24) made a good impression with his quick balls and excellent fielding.

Jos Buttler (24 not out) and skipper Eoin Morgan (7 not out) saw England through and ensured there was no more drama in the contest.

Such results do make a difference if net-run-rate comes into play at the later stage of the tournament.