England stayed alive at the World Cup on Thursday with a dramatic 18-run over the West Indies while international cricket prepared to say farewell to controversial Pakistan star Shoaib Akhtar.
Off-spinners James Tredwell and Graeme Swann took seven wickets between them as England triumphed in Chennai.
West Indies, chasing 244 for victory, were 222 for six after a stand of 72 between Ramnaresh Sarwan (31) and all-rounder Andre Russell (49) rescued them from the depths of 150 for six.
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But they lost their final four wickets for three runs to finish on 225 all out, with Sulieman Benn the last man dismissed when he was run out by Jonathan Trott's throw to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Despite the victory England still are not certain of a quarter-final spot.
If Bangladesh beat South Africa on Saturday, England will need India to beat West Indies on Sunday in the concluding match of the first round.
"It's been pretty hard work all the way through the group stages. Today was obviously a tough game, a must-win game," said England skipper Andrew Strauss.
"We probably should have got 260, 270 at least but we had to fight hard with the ball. I thought we did that brilliantly."
Earlier Luke Wright, playing his first match of the tournament, did his bit by hitting 44 in a total of 243 all out.
Trott (47) was the only other batsman who managed more than 40.
West Indies saw their decision to give leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo a one-day international debut vindicated by a return of three for 34 while fast bowler Russell finished with 4-49.
"I think one of our guys who got starts had to take us through," said West Indies captain Darren Sammy.
"We have a few positives we can take from this game but at the end of the day we missed the killer instinct."
Meanwhile, Pakistan's maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar, whose colourful career has been a heady mix of on-field brilliance and off-field controversy, announced he will quit international cricket after the World Cup.
Akhtar made up his mind after Pakistan's 110-run defeat against New Zealand, in which he went for 70 runs in his nine overs.
"I have decided to retire. Mentally I wanted to go on forever but I have decided to make way for the youngsters," the 35-year-old said.
"I have no regrets. I made lots of friends but some people have misunderstood me. It was an honour to have played with Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. I never imagined I would play for Pakistan. It was my greatest moment.
"Pakistan's last match in this World Cup will also be my last. I hope that will be the final on April 2."
Akhtar, who made his international debut in 1997, took 178 wickets in 46 Tests, the last of which was against India at Bangalore in 2007.
He is three wickets short of 250 in 163 one-day internationals and has taken 19 wickets in 15 Twenty20 internationals.
Pakistan have already made sure of their quarter-final place along with Group B rivals Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
