This West Indies side will shock a few people at the World Cup: Michael Vaughan

Windies, on Thursday, proved their World Cup-credentials by nearly pulling off a sensational chase against England in the fourth ODI in Granada. After England piled up a mammoth 418, Windies put up a great fight before being all out for 389. Veteran batsman Chris Gayle was the star of the show, slamming 162 to lay the platform before Ashley Nurse and Carlos Brathwaite revived Windies’ hopes with an 88-run stand. However, Adil Rashid ran through Windies’ lower-order to save England the blushes.

Windies, in fact, have done reasonably well in the ongoing series against the world number one ODI side. They had scored 360 in the first ODI although they lost it before beating the visitors in the second game to draw level in the five-match series. The recent performances just ahead of the World Cup is a piece of welcome news for many. Windies’ fortunes in ODIs in recent years have been absolutely dismal.

The two-time World Cup champions have last won a bilateral ODI series way back in 2014.  But the recent performances and the comeback of players like Gayle, Andre Russell has raised the hopes. And former England skipper Michael Vaughan believes the current side is well capable of shocking a few people in the World Cup.

“I’ve got a feeling this West Indies side will shock a few people at the World Cup. They’ve got three players to come in: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Evin Lewis. West Indies are a side who will shock a few people at this World Cup. They’ve got serious power,” Vaughan said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Tuffers and Vaughan show.

Windies, meanwhile, will be looking to draw the ODI series when they take on high-flying England in the fifth and final game of the series.

England favorites

Vaughan, nonetheless, reiterated that Eoin Morgan & Co. are favorites to lift the title at home. “England have got everything required to win the World Cup except for these moments of madness. The India side around the time they won the 2011 World Cup didn’t have the day England had in Barbados on Friday. The Australia side that won in 2015 lost the odd game but they didn’t have moments like England do on a consistent basis,” Vaughan said.

The World Cup will start on May 30 with England and South Africa taking on each other in the opener at the Oval.

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