It was a record-breaking day on Wednesday (January 26) at the Kensington Oval in Barbados as West Indies edged England by 20 runs in the third T20I to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. An astonishing 428 runs were scored in just 40 overs, setting up a new record for most runs scored in a T20I game on Caribbean soil. Rovman Powell was the engineer of the win, thanks to his maiden hundred in the shortest form of the game. He scored a blistering 107 off just 53 deliveries to set the tone for the West Indies. England, on the other hand, entertained the crowd with big hits but felt short of the target by 20 runs.
Pooran and Powell dominate English bowlers
After losing a couple of early wickets, Nicholas Pooran and Powell took over the initiative to get the scoring rate up. Their main target was debutant George Garton, who was whacked for 57 runs in his four overs. The pair put together a third-wicket stand of 122 runs before Pooran was dismissed in the 17th over. He made 70 runs off 43 deliveries including four fours and five sixes before heading back to the pavilion.
Maiden hundred for Powell
Playing in his 34th T20I, the Jamaican-born batter produced a fulminating display to hit mammoth 10 sixes and four fours. He reached his maiden ton in the 19th over with a couple, before hitting the next ball for a six. However, the over also marked the end of his innings as Reece Topley dismissed Powell for 107, but the damage was already done as the West Indies recorded 224/5 in their 20 overs.
Tom Banton keeps England in the game
England made a slow and steady start to their innings, with Jason Roy (19) and Tom Banton keeping the bowlers on their toes in the powerplay overs. Despite, Roy’s departure, Banton held on one end with a quickfire 73 off 39 deliveries featuring three fours and six sixes before falling to opposition skipper Kieron Pollard in the 13th over. James Vince (16) and stand-in skipper Moeen Ali (0) didn't help England's cause as they departed early.
Philip Salt's impact debut
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals England were still in the contest as Philip Salt, on debut, played a solid knock of 57 off 24 deliveries to keep the hopes alive. He arrowed the ball to the boundary line for five sixes and three fours, before falling prey to Romario Shepherd in the final over. The cameo however turned out to be too little, too late for the English side as they ended the innings for 204/9. Shepherd ended with 59/3 in his four overs and was the best bowler despite conceding at an economy rate of almost 15 runs per over.
The win sees West Indies lead the five-match series by 2-1, leaving work to do for Moeen Ali's England. Powell, as expected was named 'Man of the Match' for his maiden ton. The teams will next meet on Saturday (January 29) at the same venue for the fourth T20I before the fifth and final encounter on Sunday.
