England T20 victory
England claimed a three-wicket victory in the third Twenty20 International (T20I) against West Indies and took a 3-0 lead in the five-match series in St. Lucia.
After losing the toss and being sent into bat, the West Indies could only muster 145 for eight from their 20 overs, with only three West Indies batsmen making it into double digits.
Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone played crucial knocks for England, reaching 149 for seven from 19.2 overs.
It was sweet revenge for England, which lost the preceding ODI series and handed the Windies their first T20 home series defeat since 2023.
The win was set up by another outstanding performance of fast bowling by England’s opening pair of Jofra Archer and Player-of-the-Match Saqib Mahmood.
Shai Hope, who replaced Brandon King at the top of the order, inside-edged Archer for four to get off the mark, but a miscommunication with Evin Lewis in the very next ball saw Hope being run out by Jacob Bethell.
Nicholas Pooran pulled Archer’s last ball for a massive six as the Windies ended the first over on 11 for one.
Mahmood didn’t take long to strike, having Lewis caught by Jofra Archer for three.
Things got even worse when Pooran was bowled by Archer for seven after completely missing a wild swipe, and Roston Chase edged Mahmood to first slip for Jaime Overton to take a simple catch, to leave the score 21 for four in the fourth over.
Shimron Hetmyer scored just two before he hit Mahmood straight to Dan Mousley as the Windies lost their fifth wicket.
Rovman Powell of the West Indies bats watched by England wicketkeeper Phil Salt during the 3rd International t20 between the West Indies and England at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium on Nov. 14, 2024 in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
A 73-run partnership between captain Rovman Powell, who scored 54, and Romario Shepherd made 30 to help the home side past the three-figure mark.
Overton picked up the wickets of Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie in the 16th over, and West Indies reached their eventual target thanks to the efforts of Powell and Alzarri Joseph, who finished unbeaten on 21 from 19 balls.
Mahmood was the pick of the England bowlers with 3-17, while Overton took 3-20.
In reply, Hosein accounted for Phil Salt for the second time in the series when he was bowled for four. Hosein also dismissed Jos Buttler for four, and Joseph had Jacob Bethell caught behind for the same score; England had slipped to 37 for three in the sixth over.
A 38-run partnership between Will Jacks and Sam Curran helped steady the innings until Motie caught Jacks by Powell after scoring 32.
Curran and Liam Livingstone then added a further 39 runs before Terrance Hinds snagged Curran for 41 to claim his maiden T20I wicket, and Hosein accounted for the wicket of Mousley, leaving the match at 123 for six in the 17th over.
Livingstone smacked Joseph for four and two sixes in the 18th over, with England now needing five runs from 12 balls.
Hosein then picked up Livingstone’s wicket as he tried to finish the match with a six, but Rehan Ahmed hit Hinds for four off the second ball of the last over to claim victory.
Hosein was the Windies’ best bowler with 4-22 from his four overs.
