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In a thrilling conclusion to the five-match series, West Indies emerged victorious against England, clinching a 3-2 series win with a four-wicket triumph in the decisive T20I at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, on Thursday, December 21.
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England, batting first, got off to a robust start, racking up 50 runs during the powerplay. However, they suffered early setbacks with the dismissals of Jos Buttler and Will Jacks. Phil Salt, continuing his impressive form, played a brisk innings of 38 runs off 22 deliveries, including five fours and a six. His knock was curtailed by left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who turned out to be the standout bowler for West Indies. Motie's spell also saw him taking the wickets of Liam Livingstone and Harry Brook, ending with remarkable figures of 4-0-24-3.
Andre Russell, Akeal Hosein, and Jason Holder contributed with two wickets each, while Oshane Thomas had a less effective outing. England's innings concluded at 132 all out in 19.3 overs, with Livingstone and Moeen Ali adding 28 and 23 runs respectively.
The chase for West Indies, though seemingly straightforward, was challenged by a resilient English side. Contributions came from Johnson Charles (27), Nicholas Pooran (10), and Sherfane Rutherford (30), helping the team recover after the early loss of Brandon King.
West Indies captain Rovman Powell and Andre Russell fell for low scores, but Shai Hope played a crucial anchoring role. The West Indies ODI skipper remained unbeaten with a composed 43 off 43 balls, hitting two fours and a six, guiding his team to victory with four balls to spare.
England's Reece Topley was the standout bowler, finishing with figures of 4-0-17-2. Adil Rashid, recently ranked as the world's No.1 bowler in T20Is, claimed the important wickets of Charles and Rutherford but couldn't prevent the West Indies' win.
This series victory is a significant morale booster for West Indies cricket, particularly after their inability to qualify for the 2023 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. The ODI and T20I series wins against a strong England side not only showcase the Caribbean team's potential but also serve as a testament to their resilience and capability to compete at the highest level in international cricket.
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