All hail Hales
Published: 24th June 2012
ALEX HALES was left joyous but distraught as he failed by one agonising run to score England’s first Twenty20 century.
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Notts batsman Hales was out for 99 on his home ground at Trent Bridge as England continued their crushing dominance of West Indies.
He hung his head after Ravi Rampaul disturbed his stumps in the 19th over and looked inconsolable when he returned to the dugout.
But Hales should be very proud — he played a superb, mature innings that swept England to victory by eight wickets and means they remain unbeaten against the Windies this summer.
He screamed the message loud and clear that England can contemplate a T20 life without Kevin Pietersen — just like Ian Bell last week when he scored a century in England’s first 50-over game following KP’s retirement.
Hales passed England’s previous highest T20 score of 85 not out by Eoin Morgan.
And his partnership of 159 with Ravi was the highest by England in the shortest — beating the 128 unbroken by Hales himself and Craig Kieswetter against the Windies at the Oval last summer.
Hales said: “There were mixed emotions. I was gutted to miss out on a hundred but very pleased we managed to get win. This is the highlight of my career.
“I definitely saw this as a chance now KP has gone — and I’m pleased the selectors backed me.
"It’s hugely exciting to see players like Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler — there’s a lot of depth and flair.”
And T20 skipper Stuart Broad added: “KP has retired and Bell came in and scored a century.
"Now Alex has 99 — it was a fantastic knock. He was heartbroken when he was out and the dressing-room was gutted.”
England’s target of 173 to win looked a tough chase but, after Kieswetter departed early, Hales and Bopara timed their chase expertly.
Until the 11th over, Hales was the only batsman to hit a boundary but gradually Bopara increased his tempo.
At 6ft 4ins, Hales is a similar build to Pietersen and he sent a string of shots scorching to or over the boundary.
But there was subtlety in his batting, too, and he and Bopara ran the Windies ragged with ones and twos.
Nobody is saying that Pietersen is not missed. After all, he was England’s Player of the Tourament in their World Twenty20 triumph in the Caribbean two years ago.
But at least Hales showed he can bash international attacks.
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