England’s preparations for the $20 million bonanza on Saturday have been seriously disrupted by a virus that has swept through the ranks with more persuasion than Allen Stanford among a gaggle of WAGs. For their final warm-up match against Trinidad & Tobago, won by one run, Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores were reduced to picking the only XI who were fit for action, which brought an unexpected appearance for Alastair Cook.

It was an important night for Graeme Swann and Stephen Harmison, who were making their first appearances of the week. Harmison looked a little short of match fitness, down on pace but straight enough. Swann strutted around with his usual air of bonhomie, but bowled only two overs, taking a wicket but conceding 19 runs, which, along with a sloppy misfield, may just have put paid to his chances of a pink Ferrari.

With Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson and Stuart Broad paying homage to Armitage Shanks back at the team hotel, it meant that England had only two fit pace bowlers. Although Andrew Flintoff bowled with his usual skill, he worryingly left the field repeatedly in the closing stages as he, too, was stricken by the virus.

A stronger bowling line-up would surely have defended 141 with greater ease, but this would be to diminish the Trinidad team, who have proved, with every outing this week, why they are the best Twenty20 team in the region.

Needing 13 off the last two overs, ten off six balls and three off the last ball, Ravi Rampaul could only edge Harmison to third man. Owais Shah’s return was expertly picked up by Matt Prior and the bails removed before Rampaul could scamper back for the second that would have given Trinidad a tie and forced a “Stanford Super Over”.

Earlier, things had taken on a more typical Twenty20 rhythm in England’s innings, with spectators requiring hard hats as sixes rained down on them. Three were hit by Kevin Pietersen, who began to look ominously dangerous as far as the Stanford Superstars are concerned. Ian Bell’s elegant 37 was a timely counterpoint and reminded everybody that even here, at the home of Twenty20, batting can still be a thing of beauty.