CASTRIES – England took full advantage of another inept batting performance by the West Indies to claim a tense three-wicket victory in the third T20I and claim an unassailable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five series in St Lucia on Thursday.
Only three West Indies batsmen made it into double digits after they lost the toss and were sent in to bat for the third successive time, and they could only muster 145 for eight from their 20 overs.
Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone then played crucial knocks and England edged to 149 for seven from 19.2 overs to capture the series with two matches to play.
It was sweet revenge for England who lost the preceding ODI series and handed the Windies their first T20 home series defeat since 2023.
The win was set up by another outstanding display of fast bowling by England’s opening pair of Jofra Archer and Player-of-the-Match Saqib Mahmood, who put the home side on the backfoot from the get-go.
Shai Hope, who replaced Brandon King at the top of the order, inside edged Archer to the fine leg boundary for four to get off the mark, but a miscommunication with Evin Lewis the very next ball for what should have been an easy single, saw Hope being run out by a direct throw from Jacob Bethell at square leg.
Nicholas Pooran gave fans at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground something to shout about when he pulled Archer’s last ball over square leg for a huge six as the Windies ended the first over on 11 for one.
Mahmood didn’t take long to strike, having Lewis caught at third man by Jofra Archer for three after he attempted to hit a half volley outside of off stump through the onside.
Things got even worse for the home side when Pooran was clean bowled by Archer for seven after completely missing a wild swipe and Roston Chase edged Mahmood to first slip for Jaime Overton to take a simple catch, to leave the score 21 for four in the fourth over.
Shimron Hetmyer scored just two before he slapped Mahmood straight to Dan Mousley at deep midwicket as the Windies lost their fifth wicket inside the power play.
A 73-run partnership between captain Rovman Powell, who scored a fighting 54 and Romario Shepherd, who made 30 helped to get the home side past the three-figure mark.
Overton picked up the wickets of Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie in the 16th over and West Indies got up to their eventual target thanks to the efforts of Powell and Alzarri Joseph who finished unbeaten on 21 from 19 balls.
Mahmood was the pick of the England bowlers with 3-17 while Overton took 3-20.
Needing quick wickets to have any chance of winning the contest, Hosein accounted for Phil Salt for the second time in the series when he bowled him off his pads for four as he tried to give himself room to hit through the onside.
When Hosein dismissed Jos Buttler for four and Joseph had Jacob Bethell caught behind for the same score, England had slipped to 37 for three in the sixth over.
A 38-run stand between Will Jacks and Sam Curran helped to steady the innings, until Jacks slapped Motie straight into the hands of Powell at cover after scoring 32.
Curran and Liam Livingstone then added a further 39 runs and the pair looked set to take the visitors over the line.
However, Terrance Hinds snagged Curran for 41 to claim his maiden T20I wicket and Hosein accounted for the wicket of Mousley to leave the match interestingly poised at 123 for six in the 17th over.
Livingstone, though, proved to be England’s saving grace, launching Joseph for a four and two sixes in the 18th over that leaked 16 runs, to bring the equation down to five runs from 12 balls.
Hosein managed to pick up Livingstone’s wicket as he tried to finish the match with a six, but Rehan Ahmed punched Hinds for four off the second ball of the last over to bring an end to the contest and ensure England wrapped up the series.
Hosein was the Windies’ best bowler with 4-22 from his four overs.
CMC
Scores
WEST INDIES 145-8 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 54, Romario Shepherd 30, Alzarri Joseph 21 not out; Saqib Mahmood 3-17, Jaime Overton 3-20).
ENGLAND 149-7 in 19.2 overs (Sam Curran 41, Liam Livingstone 39, Will Jacks 32; Akeal Hosein 4-22).
England won by three wickets.
