According to an IML press release, the fifth match of the inaugural International Masters League, 2025, brought together the icons of the West Indies and England under floodlights, bringing a sense of nostalgia to the DY Patil Stadium. The West Indies Masters defeated the England Masters by eight runs, their second victory of the tournament, thanks to an all-around performance.

When Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith rekindled the Caribbean flare and led the West Indies to a scorching 77-run opening partnership in little over 7 overs after being sent in to bat, the stadium was taken back in time.

Smith matched his left-handed partner shot for shot to bash 35 off 25, while Gayle, who replaced Brian Lara as captain of the West Indies Masters, produced a classic power-hitting masterpiece, scorching 39 off 19 deliveries. Smith was the more restrained of the two, striking four boundaries and a few sixes, but Gayle dealt mostly in boundaries, hitting the bowlers for four enormous sixes and three boundaries.

However, the English spinners pulled the brakes just as the Windies seemed to be unstoppable, quickly taking the first five wickets. The attack was initiated by leg-spinner Chris Schofield, who ended the thriving opening combination in three deliveries to bring the game back to parity.

The West Indian team, which had previously sped to 90 for 2 in 10 overs, suddenly stumbled to 113 for 5 in 15 overs after being hit three times in short succession by left-arm spinner Monty Panesar.

However, the momentum was altered by the appearance of Deonarine and Ashley Nurse, who returned the assault to the opposition with a variety of appealing strokes. More significantly, they gave the innings its final flourish with a 44-run partnership for the sixth wicket. The innings reached 179/6 thanks to Deonarine’s undefeated 23-ball 35, which was smashed by three clear sixes, and Nurse’s 13-ball 29, which ended with two boundaries and as many sixes.

After captain Eoin Morgan’s 13-ball 22, driven by a couple of fours and a six, and opener Phil Mustard’s brilliant 19-ball 35, laced with seven fours and a six, England never found the momentum going their way. The West Indian bowlers put up a disciplined effort to not only stop the flow of runs but also continued to take wickets at regular intervals, which left the English batting at 76/5 inside the first ten.

The spin combination of left-armer Sulieman Benn and offfie Ashley Nurse held the Englishmen at bay with three more wickets after Ravi Rampaul and Jerome Taylor dismissed the top three.

A 52-run partnership for the seventh wicket was formed by Chris Schofield and Chris Tremlett as the asking rate increased. However, Schofield’s resistance was broken by Taylor as the right-hander smashed a 26-ball 32, driven by five knocks to the boundary.

England Masters needed 18 from the last over in a desperate attempt to win the competition for the first time. Stuart Meaker’s 10-ball 24 and Tremlett’s 19-ball 26 almost got them over the finish line, but Dwayne Smith used his expertise to flip the tide in the West Indies’ favor.

Brief Scores: England Masters 171/8 in 20 overs (Phil Mustard 35, Chris Schofield 32, Sulieman Benn 2/11) were defeated by West Indies Masters 179/6 in 20 overs (Chris Gayle 39, Dwayne Smith 35, Monty Panesar 3/14).