England’s bid for a 5-0 whitewash of the West Indies were dashed as the hosts produced a great comeback to win the thrilling high-scoring fourth T20 international in St Lucia by five wickets. In reply, England’s bowling could not succeed in defending the total that home team had produced, as the West Indies chased it down with six balls to spare while chasing 218-5.
Explosive Opening Partnership For West Indies
West Indies started their run chase with a great beginning as Shai Hope (54 off 24) and Evin Lewis (68 off 30) formed a dominant top-order alliance. Lewis was specially destructive as the pair annexed 136 runs from mere 55 balls for the first wicket. The English were handed three sixes and a four against them in Liam Livingstone’s expensive 8th over. This aggressive approach made West Indies reach to a successful chase of 219.
England Fought Back With Three Quick Wickets
England staged a magnificent comeback when the West Indies seemed to cruise all along with it at the end of the 10th over as Rehan Ahmed bagged Hopes (run out), Lewis (caught on the cover boundary), and Nicholas Pooran (bowled for a duck) off successive balls, reducing the West Indies score and bringing them back into a tight situation. They needed 89 runs off 60 balls in a matter of minutes as pressure began to mount.
Powell And Rutherford Hold Their Nerve
West Indies captain Rovman Powell (38) did enough to steady the chase, but his falling lbw to debutant John Turner in the 17th over meant that his team had to find 23 runs from 18 balls. Sherfane Rutherford (29 not out off 17) put those final touches with two successive sixes off Dan Mousley to ensure victory for his side. The West Indies won the match, marking their first win in the series.
Bethell Shines Helps England Set Challenging Total
England posted a competitive total of 218-5, mostly thanks to the brilliance of Jacob Bethell (62 not out off 32). Bethell’s second half-century of the series came after a fast start from Phil Salt (55 off 35), Jos Buttler (38 off 23), and Will Jacks (25 off 12), who all contributed to England passing 100 runs in just 9 overs. Bethell’s fireworks included five sixes and four fours, which meant that the total remained imposing for England.
Liam Livingstone’s Injury Concern
The main worry for England was for the fitness of Liam Livingstone, who jarred his knee while taking a stunning catch that dismissed Shimron Hetmyer (7). Livingstone went off the field soon thereafter, leaving a potential gap in England’s plans for the final match of the series.
England’s Efforts In Vain
Salt and Buttler got some good start for England, but their innings fizzled out in the middle overs. Jack’s start could not be converted into a bigger score as he got out to Alzarri Joseph (1-33), and Buttler got out without scoring a half-century as his brief flurries of boundaries were in vain. Salt was dismissed via a soft leg-side catch off Roston Chase, and though Bethell and Curran (24 off 13) did do some late fireworks, the total 218 from England would prove to be a tad short in the end.
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West Indies Gained Momentum In Powerplay
West Indies got off to a flying start, Hope and Lewis taking the side to 69-0 at the end of the powerplay. This time, unlike the preceding games in the series, the West Indians seemed to be in command. Mahmood (0-24 from 4 overs) conceded a maiden in the second over but failed to check the chase. Hope and Lewis really made the most of it; Hope hit four consecutive boundaries off Turner in the 3rd over to make the statement for the rest of the innings.
West Indies Seal First Win Of The Series
A match full of dramatic moments and great batting has seen the West Indies finally win for the first time in the series and thus deny England their dream sweep of a 5-0 victory. A strong first innings performance might have helped England set the target that they were subsequently unable to defend, and the series stands at 3-1 in their favor going into the last match.
