WI vs England T/20 humdinger ends this weekend

A maiden T/20 international century from Rovman Powell led West Indies to a 20-run victory over England in the third Twenty20 fixture on Wednesday at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, to lead the five-match series 2-1, and set up a grand finale this weekend.

Powell struck 107 off 53 balls, including 4 fours and 10 sixes, as he punished England’s bowling.

Included in the match as a replacement for fellow-Jamaican, Odean Smith, Pollard had a fruitful alliance of 122 for the third wicket with Nicholas Pooran.

The left-handed Pooran smashed 70 off 43, in which he struck 4 fours and 5 sixes, as West Indies posted 224 for 5, their highest T20 score against England.

Tom Banton smashed 3 fours and 6 sixes in his 73 off 39 balls at the top of the order. Debutant, Phil Salt, contributed 57. Salt smoked 3 fours and 5 sixes in his 24-ball innings.

Support was lacking from the other batters, as England reached 204 for 9 from their allotted 20 overs.

Romario Shepherd picked up 3 for 59 and Kieron Pollard, 2 for 31.

The West Indies were rebounding from a one-run loss last Sunday, as England bounced back from Saturday’s nine-wicket defeat to the host, at the same venue.

Set 172 to win in their second match on Sunday, West Indies reached 170 for 8 from their 20 overs, as England leveled the five-match series 1-1.

West Indies looked out of it at 98 for 8, but Romario Shepherd and Akeal Hosein both struck 44 not out, to bring some respectability to the reply.

Shepherd belted a four and 5 sixes in his 28-ball knock, while Hosein’s runs came off 16 balls, as he smoked 3 fours and 4 sixes.
Needing 30 off the last over, Hosein bludgeoned 2 fours and three sixes off the bowling of Saqib Mahmood, but it was too little too late. Nicholas Pooran (24) and Darren Bravo (23), were the other contributors.

Bowling for England, Moeen Ali took 3 for 24 and Adil Rashid, 2 for 24.

When England batted, Jason Roy hit 45, Moeen Ali, 31, Chris Jordan, 27 and Tom Banton, 25.

Jason Holder took 2 for 25, Fabien Allen, 2 for 50, and there was a wicket each for Sheldon Cottrell, Shepherd, Pollard and Hosein.

Sunday’s match was in contrast to Saturday’s emphatic nine-wicket win for the West Indies.

England, sent in to bat, made 103 all out from 19.4 overs, recovering from 49 for 7. Jordan scored 28 and Rashid, 22.
Jason Holder picked off 4 for 7 and Sheldon Cottrell, 2 for 30.

Brandon King then hit 52 not out, Pooran, 27 not out and Shai Hope, 20, to see West Indies to 104 for 1 from 17.4 overs.

Both teams will meet again on Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m.s at the Kensington Oval venue, for the remaining two day/night fixtures, as the pulsating series culminates.