Cricket: England warm up for World Cup with an easy victory over West Indies

Chris Woakes (right) of England bowls next to Lendl Simmons of the West Indies during their warm-up match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Feb 9, 2015. Chris Woakes took five for 19 as England claimed a comfortable nine-wicket victory in their fi
Chris Woakes (right) of England bowls next to Lendl Simmons of the West Indies during their warm-up match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Feb 9, 2015. Chris Woakes took five for 19 as England claimed a comfortable nine-wicket victory in their first official World Cup warm-up match after dismissing a hapless West Indies for 122 in 29.3 overs on Monday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Chris Woakes took five for 19 as England claimed a comfortable nine-wicket victory in their first official World Cup warm-up match after dismissing a hapless West Indies for 122 in 29.3 overs on Monday.

Openers Moeen Ali (46) and Ian Bell (35 not out) took England more than halfway to their target before their opening partnership was broken.

James Taylor (25 not out) joined Bell to finish the job inside 23 overs.

West Indies had won the toss and chosen to bat on a muggy, overcast day at the Sydney Cricket Ground but a calamitous start saw them lose Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo for ducks inside the first over.

All-rounder Woakes removed them both caught behind and things did not get much better for the islanders with wickets falling at regular intervals through the remainder of their 131-minute innings.

Lendl Simmons provided the only innings of any substance and a reminder of the firepower West Indies can usually rely upon with a lusty six into the second tier of the historic members' stand.

Once he departed caught at cover by James Tredwell at midwicket for 46, though, the writing was on the wall. Two overs later, Woakes claimed his fifth wicket when Andre Russell holed out for seven to end the innings.

England rested James Anderson and Stuart Broad for their penultimate run-out before they begin their quest for a first World Cup title against co-hosts Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

West Indies, who won the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979, open their campaign against Ireland in Nelson, New Zealand next Monday.

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