New Delhi: West Indies rode on brisk half-centuries from openers Evin Lewis and Shai Hope to chase mammoth score of 219 with an over to spare in the fourth T20 International match against England at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Saturday.
Lewis (68 runs off 31 balls) and Hope (54 runs off 24 balls) smashed 136 runs for the opening wicket in the first nine overs to set the tone for the arduous task. England spinner Rehan Ahmed got rid of Lewis on the first ball of the 10th over with Dan Mousley taking a safe catch after running towards deep cover. Hope was ran out in the following delivery with both openers returning back to the dugout.
West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran was cleaned up by Rehan for a two-ball duck as wickets tumbled in a blink of an eye. Before the visitors could cause any further damage, skipper Rowman Powell smashed two fours and three sixes in his 23-ball 38 to shift back the momentum in the home side’s corner. Shimron Hetmyer scored only seven runs in the 36-run partnership with Powell for the fourth wicket before the former perished in the 14th over.
Sherfane Rutherford joined Powell to close in on the task, but the West Indies captain was trapped in front of the wickets England pacer John Turner. Powell’s dismissal in the 17th over didn’t made any difference as Rutherford hammered back-to-back sixes off Mousley’s bowling in the penultimate over to get past the finishing line.
Salt, Bethell ‘s powerfire in vain
Earlier in the match, Phil Salt gave England a substantial start with 55 runs from 35 balls coming from the opener’s willow. Will Jacks (25 runs off 12 balls) and captain Jos Buttler (38 runs off 23 balls) contributed modestly before Jacob Bethell accelerated in the death overs. The Warwickshire middle order batter pummelled four boundaries and five sixes to remain unbeaten on 62 from 32 deliveries as England posted 218 after the completion of 20 overs.
England have already sealed the series with an unassailable 3-1 lead with victories secured in the first three matches played in Barbados and St Lucia. The final T20I will be played on Sunday at the same venue in St Lucia.
West Indies chased 219 with an over and five wickets to spare to win the fourth T20I against England in St Lucia. This comes after the hosts have already lost the five-match series. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
