TAROUBA, TRINIDAD: An evening of pure cricketing pandemonium unfolded in Trinidad as England, powered by Phil Salt’s second consecutive century, smashed their highest-ever T20I score and outgunned the West Indies by a comfortable 75 runs to level the five-match series at 2-2. The Brian Lara Stadium witnessed a breathtaking display of six-hitting, audacious strokes, and a near-unthinkable chase that ultimately fell short, leaving the series tantalisingly poised for a decider on Thursday.
England, batting first, wasted no time in setting the tone. The opening pair of Salt and Jos Buttler, fresh from swapping roles with Buttler keeping, tore into the West Indies bowling. Both batsmen were in a mood to dismantle boundaries, with Salt reaching his fifty in just 22 balls and Buttler not far behind. The duo put on a 130-run stand in just 10 overs, a whirlwind partnership that left the hosts reeling.
Salt, in particular, was in a belligerent mood. He effortlessly cleared the ropes on nine occasions, his shots a symphony of power and precision. One such monstrous strike, a straight drive off Odean Smith that landed on the roof of the Brian Lara Academy, remains a contender for the shot of the tournament. Buttler, playing the supporting role to perfection, kept the scoreboard ticking with elegant flicks and deft cuts, reaching his own half-century off 28 balls.
Even after the two openers departed, the England onslaught continued unabated. Liam Livingstone smashed a rapid-fire 54 off just 21 deliveries, peppering the stands with sixes of his own. Harry Brook and Moeen Ali added crucial cameos to push the England total to a staggering 267/3 – the highest ever score by an English team in T20 cricket.
Chasing such a mammoth target was always going to be a daunting task, but the West Indies, buoyed by their home crowd, came out swinging. Brandon King and Kyle Mayers provided a quickfire start, adding 49 runs in the first four overs. However, once King departed, the innings stuttered. Shamarh Brooks and Rovman Powell tried to steady the ship but found themselves bogged down by the ever-increasing required run rate.
Andre Russell, as he often does, injected urgency into the chase with a typically belligerent half-century. He clobbered six sixes in his 24-ball blitz, briefly reigniting the home team’s hopes. However, the England bowlers, led by the wily Chris Jordan and the accurate Reece Topley, kept chipping away at the wickets. The chase never truly gathered momentum, and with Russell’s dismissal in the 16th over, the West Indies’ resistance finally crumbled, falling short by 75 runs.
The victory sends the series into a thrilling finale on Thursday, with both teams now having a chance to claim the coveted trophy. For England, the win was a vindication of their attacking approach, showcasing their depth and firepower in the shortest format. Phil Salt, with his consecutive centuries, has established himself as a force to be reckoned with, while Jos Buttler’s decision to step back from keeping proved a tactical masterstroke.
The West Indies, though disappointed, can take heart from their fightback, even with the bat stuttering in the chase. The likes of Russell and Powell remain dangerous when in form, and their bowlers showed they can contain and even exploit the English firepower. With both teams boasting explosive batting lineups and skilled bowling attacks, the decider promises to be a spectacle, a fitting climax to a series that has already delivered high-octane T20 entertainment.
- West Indies vs England Highlights :
- England Score – 267/3 in 20.0 overs
- England batting performance
- Phil Salt 119(57) Jos Buttler 55(29)
- West Indies bowling performance
- Akeal Hosein 4-36-1 Andre Russell 3-37-1
- West Indies Score – 192/10 in 15.3 overs
- West Indies batting performance
- Andre Russell 51(25) Nicholas Pooran 39(15) England bowling performance
- Reece Topley 3.3-37-3 Sam Curran 2-25-2
So, buckle up, cricket fans! Thursday night in Barbados promises to be a night of nail-biting tension, breathtaking skill, and perhaps, another record-breaking display of six-hitting. One thing is certain – the winner of this epic finale will not only take home the trophy but also the bragging rights in this unforgettable battle of bat and ball.
