WEST INDIES: Riding on a brilliant century by Rovman Powell, West Indies defeats England by 20 runs in the 3rd T20I of 5 matches T20I series between England and West Indies. A total of 428 runs were scored in this match by both teams which is the highest number of runs scored in a T20I match in the West Indies.
In this T20I match after winning the toss, England decided to bowl first. England got an early breakthrough as George Garton removed the West Indies opening batsmen Brandon King (10) and West Indies were 11/1 after 1.5 overs.
Nicholas Pooran joined Shai Hope at the crease after the fall of Brandon King. Nicholas Pooran took care of the run rate right from the start of his innings. Pooran was just dealing in boundaries. Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope stitched up a 37 runs partnership.
Liam Livingstone gave England their second breakthrough as he removed Shai Hope (4) and West Indies were 48/2 after 5.2 overs. Rovman Powell joined Nicholas Pooran in the middle after the fall of the 2nd wicket.
Rovman Powell along with Nicholas Pooran completely demolished the English bowling lineup. Rovman Powell was scoring runs with a 200+ strike rate. Rovman Powell along with Nicholas Pooran stitched up a 122 runs partnership.
Both Rovman Powell and Nicholas Pooran both brought up their half-centuries during this partnership. Adil Rashid removed Nicholas Pooran and West Indies were 170/3 after 16.2 overs. Nicholas Pooran scored 70 runs off 43 deliveries which included 4 fours and 5 sixes.
Rovman Powell’s maiden T20I century
After Pooran got out, Rovman Powell kept hammering huge sixes. Rovman Powell also brought up his maiden T20I century. Reece Topley got rid of Rovman Powell and West Indies were 210/4 after 19 overs. Rovman Powell scored 107 runs off 53 deliveries which included 4 fours and 10 monstrous sixes at a strike rate of 201.89.
After the wicket of Powell, Kieron Pollard (9)* and Romario Shepherd (11)* took West Indies to a total of 224/5 after 20 overs.
For England, Reece Topley, George Garton, Tymal Mills, Liam Livingstone, and Adil Rashid took 1 wicket each.
Openers Jason Roy and Tom Banton gave England a good start. They both added 33 runs for the opening wicket. Jason Roy smashed 2 sixes before getting out of a delivery bowled by Romario Shepherd. England was 33/1 after 3.2 overs.
James Vince joined Tom Banton at the crease after the fall of the first wicket. Tom Banton was scoring runs at a quick pace. James Vince was also looking good but he got out after scoring 16 runs off 9 deliveries which included 1 four and 1 six.
Tom Banton was keeping the England team alive in this chase but wickets kept falling from the other end. Moeen Ali got out for a duck and England was 87/3 after 8.4 overs.
Liam Livingstone joined Tom Banton after the wicket of England skipper Moeen Ali. Tom Banton stitched up 20 runs partnership with Liam Livingstone during which Banton brought up his 2nd T20I half-century. Just when things were looking a bit stable for England, both Liam Livingstone and Tom Banton got out in quick successions and England were 129/5 after 12.3 overs.
Tom Banton scored 73 runs off 39 deliveries which included 3 fours and 6 sixes whereas Liam Livingstone scored 11 runs off 9 deliveries which included 1 six.
After the fall of Banton and Livingstone, Philip Salt and Harry Brook came out to bat. England needed 95 runs off 45 deliveries and it was looking like England is going to lose the match by a big margin but then Philip Salt played a tremendous inning. He added a 45 runs partnership with Harry Brook to keep England in the game.
Philip Salt’s Valiant half-century
Philip Salt brought up his maiden half-century in his very first T20I match. Philip Salt was playing as a lone warrior as he scored 57 runs off just 24 deliveries which included 3 fours and 5 sixes. Wickets kept falling from the other end but Philip Salt was still trying to win the game for England.
When England needed 38 runs off the last over, Romario Shepherd bowled 2 wides and England needed 36 runs off 6 deliveries. Philip Salt hit 2 sixes off the first two balls but he got out in the 3rd delivery of the last over and England finished their innings at 204/9 after 20 overs. Tymal Mills remained unbeaten on 1 whereas Reece Topley remained unbeaten on 2.
For West Indies, Romario Shepherd took 3 wickets, Kieron Pollard took 2 wickets whereas Akeal Hosein, Jason Holder, and Sheldon Cottrell took 1 wicket each.
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