England Seal T20 Series Win

England defeated West Indies by three wickets at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia on Thursday evening, the third win for the visitors, taking a 3-0 lead and clinching the five-match series. The tourists won the first two matches at Kensington Oval in Barbados, with two more fixtures to be played in Saint Lucia this weekend.

Thursday’s rubber began after a slight rain delay, with England captain Jos Buttler winning the toss for the third time in succession, and for the third time opting to field first. 

There were three changes for the West Indies. Shai Hope came in at the top of the order for Brandon King. Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph returned from suspension, in place of Matthew Forde. And Shimron Hetmyer supplanted Sherfane Rutherford in the final XI. 

England made one change, Adil Rashid left out for Rehan Ahmed.

The West Indies openers fell early, Hope dismissed for a run-out and his partner Evin Lewis caught by a well-bowled short delivery. Nicholas Pooran and Roston Chase quickly followed suit, leaving the West Indies reeling at 21-4. 

West Indies have lost 11 wickets within the powerplay in the three matches played so far in this series. On Thursday, the loss of newcomer Hetmyer further deepened the crisis, leaving the home team at 39-5 after the powerplay, and signalling the need for a rebuilding partnership.

The recovery effort came through the efforts of captain Rovman Powell and all-rounder Romario Shepherd. The two power hitters altered their natural games, playing responsible innings with a mix of lofted shots and strike rotation to put on 73 runs for the fifth wicket. After Shepherd’s dismissal for 30 on 110-6 in the 16th over, though, others quickly followed. 

Gudakesh Motie was out without scoring, and Powell went for an even 50 off 41 balls, including three fours and four sixes. His dismissal in the 18th over left the tailenders, Joseph and Akeal Hosein to finish the innings.

A flourish from Joseph yielded 21 quick runs off 19 balls, the third-highest score of the innings. He faced 19 deliveries and hit three fours.

Thanks to that cameo, the West Indies ended their first innings on 145-8. England’s top bowlers were Saqib Mahmood (3-17) and Jamie Overton (3-20).

As the England response got underway, Akeal Hosein dismissed the dangerous Phil Salt, who has a T20 century at this venue, during the powerplay, leaving England at 14-1. The visitors would eventually finish the powerplay on 42-3, slightly ahead of West Indies, but with wickets in hand, despite the further losses of Buttler and Jacob Bethell.

The West Indies could have had Liam Livingstone out twice after Will Jacks’ departure for 32. However, Livingstone was dropped twice in a row by Nicholas Pooran.

In partnership with Sam Curran, Livingstone went on to add a stubborn 39 runs for the fifth wicket before the partnership was broken by Terrance Hinds. Curran went for 41 off 26 balls.

Livingstone was dropped again and made the West Indies pay, smashing a six and a four off Alzarri Joseph’s over, which practically sealed the game. Livingstone finally was dismissed for 39, but off 28 balls, sealing the game in spite of some late wickets for the home team with 4 balls to spare.

Hosein ended with four wickets for just 22 runs. But Hinds, in just his second international match, was especially expensive, giving up 30 runs in his 2.2 overs, whilst Joseph conceded 37 from his four overs.

The series continues on Saturday at the same venue.

Photo Credit: AFP/Getty