(Reuters) – The West Indies team secured a victory over England in the T20 international series, with Shai Hope hitting a winning six to secure the win. The hosts had a challenging task in the last over, but ultimately managed to chase down nine runs and secure a four-wicket victory at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba. Sam Curran of England had given the team a chance in the previous over, with some impressive play.
West Indies captain Rovman Powell commented on the close finish, acknowledging the key role played by Shai Hope in securing the victory. The win marked a hat-trick of T20 series victories for West Indies in 2023, following earlier wins against South Africa and India.
Hope emerged as the match’s top scorer with 43 runs off 43 balls. England, on the other hand, were all out for 132 runs, falling victim to the impressive bowling and fielding displayed by the West Indies team.
Phil Salt, who had previously scored 119 off 57 balls, was bowled by man-of-the-match Gudakesh Motie. England’s batting struggled to match their previous performance, with Salt’s dismissal marking a turning point in the match.
England were at 109-4 after 14 overs, but their fortunes took a turn for the worse as the West Indies’ spinners exerted their influence. The match reached a dramatic conclusion, with Andre Russell taking two wickets in the penultimate over but England managing to hold on until the final over.
Following the match, Salt expressed his disappointment at the outcome, but also acknowledged the value of the experience for the team. He highlighted the strong performance by Shai Hope and expressed optimism for England’s prospects in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
