Something brewing in the Caribbean as Windies win third T20I series under Rovman Powell’s captaincy
West Indies 133 6 (Hope 43*, Rutherford 30) beat England 132 (Salo 38, Motie 3-24) by four runs.
The last game for England and the tour ended exactly like the first, with Shai Hope beating the West Indies by six runs. His unbeaten run-ball score of 43 was Tarouba’s highest score for a struggling low-scorer and Chris Woakes’ clean score left four to spare in the series decider.
Something is happening in the Caribbean. After West Indies # 039; After a disappointing first-round exit last year and the T20 World Cup in Australia, West Indies have won three out of three T20Is under the captaincy of Rovman Powellland. In August, they beat India 3–2 in Daren Sammy’s first T20I series as white-ball coach. in December, the world champion won by the same margin.
That final was played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad on the same pitch used in England’s 75-run victory 48 hours earlier, but the games could hardly have been more different: after 459 runs in 35.3 overs on Tuesday night, the match it was just 265 for 38.5 on Thursday, culminating in an over.
Targeting 133, Hope made 31 from his first 23 runs before finally changing gears when he edged Rehan Ahmed for his first boundary. West Indies made it difficult for themselves, but England’s late collapse after their dismissal proved decisive, losing the last six wickets for just 22 runs. They will fly home empty-handed on Friday, having lost both the ODI and T20I fixtures of this tour.
Focusing on Phil Salt’s performance
Phil Salt hit centuries in both the third and fourth games of that series and looked untouchable in the Powerplay. Oshane Thomas, who replaced Matthew Forde in the West Indies, saw his first ball of the night smash through the covers and then concede back-to-back boundaries in the second over: the first through, the second straight back down the ground.
When Buttler fell early, scoring at short fine leg to Jason Holder on 11 in the fourth over, while Will Jacksand number 039; innings summed up his streak: A spark of promise, Akeal Hosein smashed a six, then brought him back down to earth when a handball that hit his stumps took him in a tight spot.
By the time Salo bowled Gudakesh Motie for six over long-on to take England to 60 with two three balls in the seventh over, he had broken Mohammad Rizwani’s record for most runs number 039; T20I series. But he fell to the next one he faced, who turned inside and then ran past his outside edge, a sign of what was to come through the middle crossing.
Spino chokes England
Buttler lamented that it took time for England to realize that it was not a two-night zone that allowed Motie and Hosein to flourish. Harry Brook fell on his sixth ball, glove behind Motie as he bowled; only once, when Moeen Ali pulled one over midwicket, did he concede a boundary.
Moeen fell for 23 in a superb relay catch between Andre Russell and Powell at long-on as he added 40 for the fifth wicket in 6.2 overs. Liam Livingstone hit two towering leg-side sixes – one to Thomas, the other to Holder – but returned to Motie to get his third wicket.
England’s lower order offered little resistance, with Russell clearing Chris Woakes with an inch-perfect yorker, then reacting quickly to take a good catch off his own bowling as Rehan bowled back a full toss. Adil Rashid ran Curran back to strike but Curran could only pick long on. From 267 for three, England lost by just 132.
Hope drops at anchor
Johnson Charles, who replaced Kyle Mayers at the top of the order, made an early dent in the wicket, flicking Woakes over leg for six before guiding him away from point. But England’s bowlers got the early scores they craved, with Brandon King winger Reece Topley straight to mid-on and Nicholas Pooran slotting Woakes over his own stumps.
England tried to imitate the West Indies#039; spin pressure and Rashid, who marked his rise to the top of the ICC and#039;s rankings in this form, scored his first run. The hit came thanks to the worst ball he played, a no-loop that Charles hit straight to short cover.
Sherfane Rutherford hit 30 from 21 balls, hitting Rashid for six and pulling Curran over long leg as Hope steadied the ship at the other end. They added 41 off 38 balls for the fourth wicket before Rutherford hit Rashidand#039;s googly to Curran at short extra cover to break the game open again.
As the game progressed, the chase became frantic. Powell dropped Rehan down the ground for six to get the required pace under six, but guided Topley to short third and Russell wobbled like a rusty wicket before bowling West’s full throat to Curran. India managed one run in the first five balls of the 19th over.
Handle was almost run out but Curranand#039;s close attempt off Rashidand#039;s stump. was missed. If Holderand#039;s Woakesand#039; In the 20th over, with the left-hander needing five balls first, Hope decided to end it with one shot: he fell over Woakes’ side, sparking celebrations that continued well into the night.
