England’s poor white-ball winter came to a disappointing climax on Sunday as they suffered another crushing series defeat. Phil Salt and Will Jacks got them off the mark but quickly let it slip away before Harry Brook, with an unbeaten 71, could lead the side back towards victory.
But West Indies took control in the final session, led by Shai Hope’s three sixes that helped the Windies reach their target with two balls left to spare.
1st Over
As soon as the Powerplay was complete, Buttler struck two boundaries from straight balls delivered by Rehan Ahmed for four runs in quick succession before smashing another one off a googly for another boundary. On strike again for the next over, Buttler attempted a reverse pull off slower balls but missed.
Rehan is bowling with impressive pace, yet has failed to pick up wickets yet. When aiming one at outside off, Hosein toe-ends it straight to Forde at short third man.
Shai Hope lofted another googly from Adil Rashid over long off for another six, bringing England within reach of their target despite early wicket losses and plenty of dew on the pitch. England appeared in control during their innings openers’ absence but this control faded dramatically after Powerplay concluded; there was even some dew present!
2nd Over
Rutherford and Jacks had established England in an advantageous position during their opening innings, but Sam Curran’s three wickets during the Powerplay meant their partnership fell apart quickly.
Rehan drops short and is easily pulled for six by Rutherford to complete his half century from just 71 balls, building on Hope’s solid partnership on an attack where 300 seems the minimum target.
Yannic Cariah strikes an impressive slog-sweep over long-on boundary for four, followed by Jos Buttler adding two off a similar shot to reach five-figure runs and reach his second fifty in series – earning fifth spot overall and helping England take 14 from this over.
3rd Over
Andre Russell can’t quite time this ball and sends it high into the night sky, where Harry Brook at long-on manages to swat it away with ease – helping relieve some pressure along with another wide shot from Reece Topley.
Jos Buttler begins the over with a single, but hits out in style to hit six off the final ball of the over for England to reach 12 off five overs in this innings – it will be tight!
Hosein returns for his second over. After an encouraging start, Powell quickly take one of his own by hitting it past midwicket for four. Salt, more conservative of all these bowlers, spots one slower ball and lofts it for six – giving England 10 off an over. But this pitch demands speed at which England must move forward at their pace.
4th Over
Salt hit Curran for six down the ground before Pooran struck four through cover’s dive to put West Indies back in control, before Rutherford scored six over midwicket to increase their advantage further. Rashid gave Pooran an LBW verdict off an off-side bowler; Pooran appealed, but Rashid upheld it.
Livingstone dispatches the opening ball for four on the offside, before striking another blow over midwicket to score one more run and complete his fine, fearless fifty for England – one of only two Test-playing nations to reach 267-3 in T20i history.
Moeen then bowls two wides, and Mayers, playing with dyed blond stripes down his side, hits another straight six off Moeen’s third ball of the over. However, on his final ball off that over he is caught at deep backward square; making this T20 game one of the wildest I have seen to date!
5th Over
Powell takes two off an otherwise straight delivery from Topley that was punched into the ground by Powell and adds two to reach eight runs off of one over. Salt then hits Charles on his thigh pad before Topley unleashes a legbreak into Rutherford’s gloves for four leg-byes.
Sherfane Rutherford unleashes Rashid for six, and then pulls him over long leg, but England’s resistance was eventually broken by Sam Curran’s brilliant penultimate over, in which two wickets fell to West Indies batsmen. Hope then dropped to one knee before smashing Woakes’ good length delivery over extra cover for six! With their win at extra cover and their runout six by Woakes over extra cover securing West Indies victory on an extraordinary pitch where batsmen had completely overwhelmed spinners before and England were left lamenting missed opportunities in what proved decisive fifth game victory for their opponents.
6th Over
Sam Curran finds his groove again after an ineffective performance against Australia, taking three wickets during the Powerplay. With help from Liam Livingstone and Rehan Ahmed, West Indies were reduced to just 202 runs in just 16 overs.
Shimron Hetmyer was trapped lbw by Zak Crawley and Brandon King edged to Ben Duckett at slip, leaving England in an insurmountable position. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler are sharing an unbroken partnership, with Buttler hitting an exquisite slog sweep against Adil Rashid for six runs to score nine sixes off Adil Rashid for an unassailable total.
Gudakesh Motie returns in place of Holder, but Salt strikes back with yet another pace-off bouncer for four runs and then tucks a slower delivery for two. Russell then holes out off a Topley googly to reach fifty from just 31 balls; West Indies now have only 96 to chase over six overs, an impossible task in itself.
7th Over
After tea, England resumed on 107-3 and quickly made 111. Phil Salt played an exceptional innings, but unfortunately was unable to prevent their collapse which had so devastated them at both Lord’s and Old Trafford.
Andre Russell mistimed Reece Topley’s delivery and hit it straight into the stands; but later used an Adil Rashid delivery for six runs down the pitch.
Hope and Sherfane Rutherford had both looked dangerous, until Sherfane Rutherford made a poor play that led Harry Brook to take an excellent catch at long-on. England will require many more overs like this in order to win this series 2-2 tie.
8th Over
Sherfane Rutherford’s 68 off 39 balls propelled West Indies out of their precarious position and into one they can defend with ease. However, Jos Buttler top-edges Hosein for an explosive hit that the spinner managed to catch superbly at long-on.
And then comes Russell’s final over before tea: his first ball is a straight one that he square-drives for four, followed by another that he flips over extra cover for six runs.
Alzarri Joseph faces his next ball with caution as it starts slow and attempts to cut, only to miss. Once again he finds his spot and scoops it over the vacant slips for six. Ten off the over was appropriate considering these circumstances and Russell had now hit 16 sixes by this point, more than in any game in this series prior. It was truly astounding!
9th Over
At the close of an over, Salt smacked two back-of-a-lengths to the boundary for four runs each before Hetmyer hit six with his next ball past Forde for six.
Hope slams a short ball to point, then hits it for four, reaching fifty. Hetmyer then used two separate techniques – pulling through midwicket for two runs and a slog sweep to score six runs off an overthrown delivery from Hope.
Buttler is on strike and hits the first ball to fine leg for one, before smashing a full toss over midwicket for three runs. Hetmyer then makes amends by smashing three to extra cover for four – an astounding effort and match win by West Indies! Now England must battle through four intense Test matches of which this one could prove especially entertaining! It will be fascinating to witness their response under pressure!
10th Over
England’s batsmen struggled against Sobers and Gibbs’ bowling attack, yet Lara stood firm to record an unprecedented world-record Test innings of 400 not out – unfortunately this feat wasn’t enough to secure victory and thus ended in a draw.
Phil Salt was keeping wicket for England as Adil Rashid opened with a wide. However, later in the over he whipped down a leg-break which Andre Russell could not time and hit into the stands for six runs.
Shai Hope then attempts a more conventional stroke and lofts Topley over long-on for another six, making ten off an over which was respectable return for him. In this exciting encounter, anything could happen; all is at stake going into the last over.
