West Indies Tour: Stuart Broad encouraged as England just cross the finish line to register long overdue win
Chasing 159 all-out, England looked to be on the ropes at 105-7 but Ravi Bopara and Broad helped take England home and set-up a series decider on Wednesday
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Your support makes all the difference.Stuart Broad saw signs of major encouragement for England's immediate and long-term future in their nervy three-wicket win to level the one-day international series against West Indies.
Broad himself, and especially Ravi Bopara, dragged the tourists to a long overdue and badly-needed success - which means this short series will come down to a decider back at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Wednesday.
After the winter England have had, it was a small mercy that their losing knack did not extend even further once they lurched to 105 for seven in pursuit of only 159 all out.
Despite their best efforts, Broad's men finally record a win
In the end, they emerged just on top in a tense tussle between two teams accurately described afterwards by West Indies coach Ottis Gibson as "fragile".
As England try to find a foothold following the upheaval of recent months, though, Broad senses just reward here and definite progress.
"We've probably fallen short in the real pressure scenarios in the past year," he said.
"If these experiences help us win a World Cup in a year's time, then it will be worthwhile."
After left-arm spinner Stephen Parry (three for 32) had helped to hustle the hosts out in under 45 overs, despite Lendl Simmons' 70, it all looked at one stage as if it was going very wrong for England again.
Broad took an unsurprisingly positive view, however, as he looked forward to the final match - and bigger challenges beyond.
He added: "To get over the line should give the changing-room a huge amount of confidence and belief - because we've not won two games in a row since July.
"So that's got to be our aim.
"We've had a couple as a team where we've not got over the line.
"So we've probably learned from those experiences."
Broad was particularly impressed with of man-of-the-match Parry, whose methods he believes are suited to conditions not just here but Bangladesh too - where England will this month make an unlikely bid to regain their ICC World Twenty20 crown.
He said: "He trained with us in Australia a little bit - and looking at Caribbean and Bangladesh decks, it seems to be the left-arm spinners who go into the wicket that have more success ... rather than the old-school left-arm spinners that go up.
"A bit of research went into it, and I think he looks a good find.
"He was obviously a little bit nervous. But the smile on his face, when I told him he was playing, was what you want to see.
"His style of bowling excites me over the next five weeks."
PA
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