(Cricket News) West Indies defeated England in their five-match Twenty20 International series in Barbados thanks to a vintage all-around effort by Andre Russell, who was making his comeback to international cricket.
Russell’s brilliant three-wicket stand stopped England’s attacking intent despite their powerplay having gotten off to a flying start thanks to Phil Salt’s 40 from 20 balls. Russell and Rovman Powell then hammered their side past a victory target of 172 with a characteristically hard-hitting seventh-wicket stand of 49 in 21 balls.
Russell’s thunderous cut for four off Sam Curran at the beginning of the 19th over completed the victory, as West Indies romped to the highest run-chase in T20Is in Barbados. Although England lost, there were some positive signs, especially with the successful combination of Adil Rashid and his likely successor, Rehan Ahmed, who took five wickets between them.
However, following their defeat in the ODI series last week, it was another blow to their attempts to rebuild their reputation in the white-ball game in advance of the T20 World Cup defense next year.
West Indies, chasing 172, came out swinging, with Brandon King smashing 16 off Sam Curran’s opening over, including two leg-side pick-ups for six. Then, at deep midwicket, Kyle Mayers unleashed two massive blows, the first off Will Jacks and the second, an incredible 103-meter shot off a short ball from Tymal Mills.
West Indies’ rapid ascent was capped by Shai Hope, who bopped a slower ball over long-on for his fifth six in as many overs. Their powerplay total of 59 for 1 was not quite a match for England’s 77 for 0 – the third-highest of their T20I history – but given how thoroughly that performance had collapsed, it seemed more than enough to set up the chase. Ben Duckett removed King with a brilliant grab at point to hand Chris Woakes a wicket with his fourth ball.
As Phil Salt strode out to face the first over of the match, carefree brutality had been the order of the day. It was an asset that had been scarce throughout England’s miserable 50-over World Cup, as a series of batters allowed themselves to be immobilized by the pressure of living up to their high-minded white-ball reputations.
He had a quick impact on Buttler, whose form had been so obviously lacking in recent weeks. He had two attempts to nail the shot off Andre Russell, who had sent the first attempt upstairs in a failed review for caught behind, but eventually, after a pair of thunderous drives off Jason Holder and Hosain, respectively, Buttler was spotted using his trademark ramp for six.
Though he fell to the very next ball of the innings, courtesy of an outstanding boundary grab from the sure-footed Shimron Hetmyer to give Russell a comeback wicket, Salt’s 40 from 20 balls had seemingly set the tone for a 200+ innings.
As the unfortunate Joseph found out after a change of ends resulted in a pair of outrageous sixes from his next two deliveries, the second of which was top-edged over the keeper’s head off a front-foot no-ball, Will Jacks at No. 3 ensured there would be no immediate let-up in intent. However, after maintaining composure for the ensuing free hit, Joseph lured Jacks into a skied slog to mid-off, and at 98 for 2 in the ninth over, their bowling effort had a toe-hold.
Ben Duckett made it three wickets in fifteen balls when, trying to find England’s first boundary for four overs, he got too funky with his footwork and ramped Romario Shepherd to short third. Buttler reached the hundred with a cut for four through deep third, but before he could get into top gear, Hosain lured him into a top-edged pull to deep midwicket for 39.
Harry Brook then snicked his second legitimate delivery through to the keeper as Holder took the pace off a length ball.
Pace off the ball was crucial for West Indies’ seamers, but Livingstone’s desire to belt the cover off the ball proved to be his downfall once again. He wound up taking an enormous hack at Russell and under-edged into his stumps, via his back leg, for 27 from 19. With him went any hope of the flying finish that these conditions demanded.
England’s momentum had been completely destroyed at 129 for 5 in the 14th over, and they could never quite recover their composure, despite a stand of 36 in four overs between Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone.
The tail ended meekly, with Russell capping his comeback with the outstanding figures of 3 for 19, including three for nine in his final three overs. Curran had by now holed out to a leaping Joseph at long-off for 14, and his day’s work was far from done, but after two years on the international sidelines, he would quickly reaffirmed his mastery of this format.
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