Cameron Ponsonby's match report from St Lucia
West Indies captain Rovman Powell:
It’s a bit disappointing. We keep losing wickets during the powerplay and in clusters. We managed to get to a score that we thought we could defend. Guys have to take more catches. Fielding is a collective effort. England are a world-class team.
England captain Jos Buttler:
Jofra and Saqib have taken some early wickets. Saqib really puts the ball up there. There are obviously a few guys that are not here that are top players. There’s great competition for places. Different players are putting their hands up. We’re going for 5-0. We’ve got a really hungry dressing room.
Saqib Mahmood is deservedly given the player of the match award. He bowled superbly.
Three times Livingstone was put down, and the England batter made the West Indies pay, particularly in the 18th over where he scored 18 runs to take the game away from the hosts. Two of those catching chances were tough ones, Hetmyer in the deep and Pooran when he stood up to the stumps. But the West Indies wicketkeeper really should have taken that catch over his shoulder. He was not at full stretch.
England beat West Indies by three wickets and take 3-0 lead to win T20 series!
20th over: England 149-7 (Overton 4, Rehan 5) Rehan goes over the top, hitting the winning runs to the deep point boundary for four! This looks like a well-judged chase from England, but things could have been so different if West Indies had held onto a few catches!
19th over: England 144-7 (Overton 3, Ahmed 1) Rehan and Ahmed each poke two singles to take England to the verge of victory. The tourists need just two from the final over for a T20 series win!
WICKET! Livingstone 39, c Shepherd b Hosein (England 142-7)
Is this too little, too late for the hosts. Livingstone is gone, thwacking one to Shepherd at deep mid-on, but England will surely get the three runs they require from here?
18th over: England 141-6 (Overton 1, Livingstone 39) Joseph, maybe the pick of West Indies’ bowlers up to this point, misjudges a yorker and Livingstone stoops to flick the ball away for four on the full toss. After Livingstone avoids a run out after a remarkable throw from Hetmyer in the deep, the Lancashire man now takes charge, clattering Joseph to the boundary on consecutive balls, six then four. In just one over, Livingstone has changed the game. Previously England were teetering on the brink. Now they need five runs from 12 balls.
WICKET! Mousley 8, c Hetmyer b Hosein (England 123-6)
Mousley is gone, chopping and chipping a stupid shot to Hetmyer at square leg!
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16th over: England 122-5 (Mousley 8, Livingstone 21) A brave call from Powell to put Hinds in, given this is an absolutely crucial passage of the match. Hinds starts poorly with a serious dose of the yips: three wides, one overthrow – West Indies are bleeding runs they can ill-afford to give away. But then Hinds removes Curran! It’s still a really expensive over – 14 from it, including a six from Mousley that just clears the fielder at the rope – but Curran is gone.
WICKET! Curran 41, c Hope b Hinds (England 114-5)
After Hinds sends down three wides in the over, Curran cuts to backward point … Hope slips in the deep on the sand … but falls expertly and catches the ball to remove England’s danger man! Great catch!
15th over: England 108-4 (Curran 41, Livingstone 19) After more than three overs since the last boundary for England – hugely surprising given the personnel at the crease – Curran slaps one down the ground for six! What an important shot that could be. England require 38 from 30 balls.
14th over: England 98-4 (Curran 33, Livingstone 17) You have to say this is a magnificent effort from West Indies. Their total of 145 really should not be defendable on this pitch, and against this opposition. But they are bowling really well – Joseph, Hosein and Motie in particular – and also impressing in the field. England are nudging their way towards victory but haven’t hit a boundary in more than two overs. That said, Livingstone has got his eye in.
13th over: England 83-4 (Curran 31, Livingstone 11) Another drop from Poonan as Livingstone escapes once more. Motie sends down an absolute peach, his leg break pitching and straightening beautifully to bamboozle Livingstone, who can only hover his bat around his off stump. There is a slim edge but Poonan, standing up to the stumps, the keeper can’t hold it. Had those two catches stuck, West Indies may well have been favourites in this match.
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12th over: England 83-4 (Curran 30, Livingstone 7) Joseph starts well against Livingstone, beating the Englishman for pace as the ball whistles past the stumps. But Livingstone responds, marching down the pitch and smashing a six over square leg. Oooooof. But back comes Joseph, pitching one short. Livingstone swings, top edges it but Poonan drops it behind! That was not an easy chance, the West Indies wicket keeper was running backwards and looking for the ball over his shoulder, but still really should have taken the chance. He so nearly had the ball in his gloves, but it bounced out and the England team breathe a collective sigh of relief. There are wry smiles from the West Indies team, they know what a chance that was.
11th over: England 72-4 (Curran 24) The wicket of Jacks is potentially huge. Livingstone is to come but not too many proven batters after that. Curran looks in excellent nick, though, nudging and prodding. Motie, back into the attack, is already using a towel to dry the ball, such is the moisture on the ground.
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WICKET! Jacks 32, c Powell b Motie (England 75-4)
A real bonus for West Indies! Motie darts in another one of those quick sliders. Jacks’ footwork is good to manoeuvre the space for a shot, but he fires straight at Powell in the covers, and the West Indies skipper takes another fine catch! England are wobbling here!
Looks like the umpires are going to change the ball, as it as soaked up too much water in the outfield. It’s worth stating that there is no turn here, because the bowlers are simply unable to grip the ball properly. Maybe that will change now?
10th over: England 70-3 (Curran 25, Jacks 31) The half-way mark in terms of overs for England, and under half-way to the winning target. But there will be no panic stations … yet.
9th over: England 64-3 (Curran 23, Jacks 27) Motie also into the attack and Curran and Jacks nurdle it around. No boundaries, which will suit the West Indies.
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8th over: England 58-3 (Curran 5, Jacks 23) Chase comes into the attack and it’s an excellent start, just five from the over.
7th over: England 53-3 (Curran 15, Jacks 24) Hinds comes into the West Indian attack with his slingy, Malinga-y action. But Curran picks him wonderfully chopping back-to-back fours off the back foot through square. The Englishman is using the pace of the pitch really well. You don’t have to be Hulk (or Chris Gayle) to score on this wicket. This still feels like England’s match to lose, especially with Curran in this sort of touch.
6th over: England 42-3 (Curran 5, Jacks 23) Curran times one beautifully for four off his first ball to get himself off the mark. Nine off the over, but England are without their captain. A crucial next period in the match is coming, with the powerplay ending now.
WICKET! Bethall 4, c Pooran b Joseph (England 37-3)
Bethall lasts just two balls! After hitting a four off his first delivery, Bethall nicks off his second from Joseph’s excellent delivery, with wicketkeeper Pooran claiming easily behind the stumps. Wow!
5th over: England 32-2 (Jacks 23) Jacks is a lucky boy, slicing one off the bowling of Hosein juuuuuuuuuust over the head of Powell, who had a really tricky chance with the ball falling over his shoulder as he ran back towards the rope. But Powell repeats the trick, successfully this time, for the wicket of Buttler. Game on?!
WICKET! Buttler 4, c Powell b Hosein (England 32-2)
Buttler, England’s captain and dangerman, is out! The 34-year-old is done by Hosein’s bounce, and ties himself in knots trying to guide a back-foot shot away square of the wicket. Instead, Buttler skews it awkwardly in the air. It’s a very tough chance, but Powell scrambles superbly and somehow clings on over his shoulder!
4th over: England 22-1 (Buttler 3, Jacks 14) After five tight balls from Shepherd, a loose full toss gives a gift to Jacks, who sends a shot to the boundary.
3rd over: England 15-1 (Buttler 1, Jacks 10) A first boundary for England, as Jacks swats neatly through cover, before Salt’s innings comes to a premature end. Hosein looks up for this, and there is some neat fielding at midwicket to keep the early West Indies pressure on. Buttler at the crease for England, surely still the prize wicket.
WICKET! Salt 4, b Hosein (England 14-1)
Salt is done by pace, as Hosein slides a quick break through the pitch, past the bat and into the stumps via a deflection from Salt’s pads. This has been a poor start to England, who remain in the driving seat here.
2nd over: England 9-0 (Salt 4, Jacks 5) Joseph into the West Indies attack, all 6ft5in of him. Salt and Jacks continue to modestly poke things around with a few singles. Neither has freed their arms. Salt swings and misses, seems he is struggling with the pace on this moist pitch. Just four from the over! Captain Powell will be pleased.
1st over: England 5-0 (Salt 2, Jacks 3) It is Shepherd that will open the bowling for West Indies. England require just over seven runs an over, so they don’t need to come out of the blocks like a train. Both Salt and Jacks get off the mark with a few conservative strokes.
Salt and Jacks are out at the crease for England. Here we go!
I’m off to get a cuppa. While we wait for England’s batters to emerge, have a read of this:
A daunting stat for the West Indies: the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia is the highest scoring ground in the Caribbean. The average score is 180+, which leaves West Indies well short today. All the damage was done at the top of the order, again in the powerplay. West Indies were 37-5, remember.
It’s a target that England would easily expect to reach, especially at a ground that has a short boundary and a pitch where the ball comes onto the bat with pace and a reasonably reliable bounce. But stranger things have happened and the West Indies have once defended a T20 score of 145 on this ground before, to Australia in 2021. So, it is possible, especially if the West Indies’ bowlers can get some movement.
West Indies set England a target of 146!
19th over: West Indies 135-8 (Joseph 21, Hosein 8) Mousley will close out for England, his first over of the match. The spinner sends down an awful loosener, which Joseph smashes away for four. Mousley is a quick spinner, average speed this over of 71 mph, but some loose fielding means it is a frustrating finish for England. Salt misses a stumping, there are overthrow runs as well and Joseph picks up another four off the last ball of the innings. Trescothick sits in the stands with a face of thunder.
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19th over: West Indies 135-8 (Joseph 11, Hosein 8) Curran, so good at the death, is unfortunate to concede four leg byes after a cheeky Hosein pad glances one off to the boundary. Hosein swings wildly and is fortunate not to be caught by Archer in the deep but smashes a six off the final delivery! The Trinidadian gives himself some room, leans back and careers one over the rope.
18th over: West Indies 122-8 (Joseph 9, Hosein 1) Joseph gets a valuable four away through long-off and just avoids a dismissal but hitting over the retreating Jacks. Hosein doesn’t look very comfortable out there as Overton goes to work again.
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WICKET! Powell 54, c Bethell b Overton (West Indies 113-8)
That might be the game! Overton again takes pace off the ball, Powell heaves to the leg side but only makes connection with the bottom of his bat, and Bethell catches ably in the deep!
17th over: West Indies 113-7 (Joseph 1, Powell 53) Excellent from Archer, who conceded just two runs at this late stage. Archer is done with nice figures of 1-25. Joseph simply can’t get back on strike.
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16th over: West Indies 111-7 (Joseph 1, Powell 53) This feels like the last-chance saloon for West Indies, who need to get Powell on strike as often as possible and try to get to 150.
WICKET! Motie 0, c Jacks b Overton (West Indies 110-7)
Motie is out for a duck. Hindsight is everything, I suppose, but the Guyanese should really be rotating the strike to Powell rather than slashing wildly at bouncers from Overton, who bowls a heavy, tall delivery. Motie gives himself some room for a slog, but slices it straight to Jacks at mid-off. More good stuff from Overton, who is showing great range.
WICKET! Shepherd 30, lbw Overton (West Indies 110-6)
Overton makes the breakthrough, doing Shepherd with a clever slower ball, a disguised off break. Shepherd was already through the stroke when the ball clipped his pad, and despite a review, replays show there was no bat involved. Middle stump. Excellent from Overton.
15th over: West Indies 110-5 (Shepherd 30, Powell 53) The home side roar past 100 and it feels they are trying to step on the accelerator, here. Powell pings that six over midwicket but he is obviously freeing his arms, even if a couple of shots find England hands on the boundary rope.
Fifty for Powell!
The West Indies captain races to his half century, from just 36 balls, clonking Curran over mid-wicket for six! A big heave-ho. Powell is keeping West Indies in the match here.
14th over: West Indies 98-5 (Shepherd 28, Powell 44) Interesting that Mahmood replaces Curran, who conceded just three runs off his first over. England’s wicketkeeper, Salt, persuades Buttler to waste a review after successfully appealing for a catch behind. Just two runs off Mahmood’s final over. Brilliant bowling from the 27-year-old.
13th over: West Indies 96-5 (Shepherd 27, Powell 43) Back comes Powell, who once again is going after Ahmed, clobbering the 20-year-old down the ground for six, a shot of pure power. Ahmed recovers well and keeps it tight, almost catching Shepherd from his own bowling and nearly running Powell out with a tip onto the bowler’s stumps. Powell was alert and just grounded his bat in time.
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12th over: West Indies 86-5 (Shepherd 24, Powell 36) An excellent first over from Sam Curran, just three singles from it. What a canny operator the World Cup winner is.
11th over: West Indies 83-5 (Shepherd 22, Powell 35) The players are fully under the lights now, as the sun goes down. Shortly after being crashed away for four, Overton collapses on the turf, motioning to his foot. The good news is that it just seems to be a boot issue. Yep, a stud has come loose. It’s a unremarkable over until Overton pins Powell with a lbw delivery … Powell is given out but reluctantly reviews. He looks guilty as anything and England players celebrate. There were two noises and replays show that Powell just got the thinnest of edges on the ball before it hit the pads. Powell obviously had no idea, though, and only reviewed on the off change that something was up. Both he and Daren Sammy on the sidelines laugh in relief as Powell is instructed back to the crease.
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10th over: West Indies 76-5 (Shepherd 20, Powell 30) Whisper it, but West Indies finally have a partnership. Shepherd just gets enough on a (what is really just) a clipped six, with the ball just clearing Bethell on the boundary. Powell also looks like he’s playing himself into some sort of form, and clatters Livingstone away for a one-bounce four through long-off. We’ll have a drinks break.
9th over: West Indies 62-5 (Shepherd 12, Powell 24) Powell has struggled against Rashid, but with the veteran rested, it looks like the West Indies captain – with his helmet off – is targeting his apprentice, Rehan Ahmed. The West Indies take 12 from the over, including a brutal six from Powell over mid-on – an apex of 89m – that sends the crowd running for cover.
8th over: West Indies 50-5 (Shepherd 7, Powell 17) Overton comes on at the other end for England. I like the combination of Ahmed/Overton at both ends, and it’s been a quiet couple of overs for the scorers as a result.
“I’m feeling a little sorry for Mahmood”, emails Tom V d Guchts. “He’s on his way to his best figures for England, yet all the commentary focuses on is how the players are gifting their wickets. Does the poor guy deserve some credit for building pressure etc? Or are they pure Botham golden-arm flukes?”
I think these are very favourable conditions – we saw the ridiculous swing in Archer’s opening over – but you are right to point out Mahmood’s quality here. The bouncer to Hetmyer was particularly well judged and well thought out.
7th over: West Indies 46-5 (Shepherd 5, Powell 16) Ahmed comes into the attack for England in their first bowling change. West Indies might be in dire straights but they have two batters here that can still do some damage. They need to get to a respectable score to give England some sort of challenge. This pitch is still a dangerous one for England, given the moisture in the air and the unknown pace and bounce.
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6th over: West Indies 39-5 (Shepherd 1, Powell 13) Hetmyer went for a duck in the first T20, remember, but shows real swagger to handsomely drive Mahmood back over his head. That would normally have gone for four, but sand in the outfield – soaking up the rain from earlier – stops the ball from reaching the rope. The next shot, not so handsome as he finds Mousley with that silly hook. Shepherd is the next man in, and he nurdles one to gully to get off the mark.
WICKET! Hetmyer 2, c Mousley b Mahmood (West Indies 37-5)
Hetmyer falls for England’s trap, hook, line and sinker! Mahmood bowls a perfect bouncer and Hetmyer bits, swinging his bat blindly over his head. Mously takes an easy catch at at deep mid-wicket. It’s a good ball from Mahmood, but given the context of the match, it’s a very silly shot. Hetmyer seems to know that, bashing his own helmet with his willow as he leaves the field of play.
5th over: West Indies 34-4 (Hetmyer 0, Powell 12) Nothing nervy about Powell’s next shot, as he clobbers Archer over cover for six. Woof. Archer responds with four dot balls in the over but Powell will keep the strike with a single. Hetmyer is yet to get off the mark. The run rate is at just under seven. What is a competitive total now for the West Indies?
4th over: West Indies 26-4 (Hetmyer 0, Powell 5) Mahmood is getting some serious movement in damp conditions. He’s having a ball out there, beaming widely in between his deliveries. Nine from the over as Powell nudges a few nervy shots into the air past England catches, but the West Indies captain survives. The Windies cannot afford to lose their skipper.
WICKET! Chase 7, c Overton b Mahmood (West Indies 21-4)
This is brilliant bowling, as Chase goes to a Test-type delivery, driving at a length ball outside of off. There is a bit of movement away, Chase nicks it, and Overton gobbles the catch at first of two slips! West Indies are all over the gaff!
3rd over: West Indies 17-2 (Hetmyer 0, Chase 3) Two slips for England! The tourists smell blood. Archer resumes and Chase chips one towards Livingstone, the ball just falling short of the Lancashire man. Archer removes Pooran and the Sussex man will fancy a few more wickets on his pitch.
WICKET! Pooran 7, b Archer (West Indies 17-3)
Eeeeeeeesh. Another awful cricket shot, with Pooran – on his 101st T20I appearance for the West Indies – drags his bat across the line with his head in the clouds. Not a wise thing to do against 90mph Archer, who sends a delivery rattling straight into the unguarded stumps.
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2nd over: West Indies 13-2 (Pooran 6, Chase 0) Lewis and Pooran come out swinging but these are not confident strokes, with the batters struggling to pick the bounce and pace of this pitch, which is definitely a bit soggy. Lewis twice tops the ball, the latter effort sending him back to the dressing room. Chase sees out the rest of the over, but it’s been a very rocky start for the hosts.
WICKET! Lewis 3, c Archer b Mahmood (West Indies 13-2)
Some absolutely dreadful batting, this, as Lewis tries to pull a drivable ball from Mahmood. There’s a top edge, and the ball carries over the slip area all the way to Archer on the boundary.
1st over: West Indies 5-1 (Pooran 0, Lewis 1) Lewis gets away with one on the second ball of the match, spooning the ball into the air but just short of deep fine leg running in. There is definitely some moisture in the air here, and the ball is swinging wildly for Archer. The run out of Hope really is a body blow for the West Indies, who have been so poor in the powerplay so far in this T20 series.
WICKET! Hope run out Bethall b Archer (West Indies 5-1)
Some indecision between the wickets after Hope prods one onto the on side. Bethall runs around, has one stump to aim at and hits it cleanly from 20 yards away! What a throw. Hope is out, and absolutely furious as he trods back to the pavilion.
England’s Jofra Archer has the ball in his hand. Let’s go!
The national anthems are played. Daren Sammy, the West Indies head coach and Saint Lucian after who this stadium is named, is singing his heart out. Good man.
A shame for Shandon King, who hit a century against England in the ODI series.
Team news
West Indies
Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein, Terrance Hinds.
Shai Hope in for King, Joseph in for Forde, Hetmyer for Rutherford. There are a few injuries that have come at a bad time for the West Indies.
England
Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Dan Mousley, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Rehan Ahmed, Saqib Mahmood.
Rehan Ahmed comes in for his mentor Adil Rashid, England’s lead spinner who looks like he is being rested.
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England win the toss and opt to bowl
Rovman Powell shakes his head in disbelief. England win another toss and will chase, which is what they always like to do.
Play will begin in 10 minutes.
The toss will take place at 8.30pm GMT. So play to commence shortly after that.
Looks like the covers are coming off. Hurrah!
Liam Livingstone was talking earlier today about this pitch having more pace and bounce than the one in Barbados, so it should be a lively game when things get underway.
It is raining in St Lucia, which means the 8.15pm GMT start is looking increasingly unlikely.
Topley to fly home to England after injury
Reece Topley has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 series through injury, and is to fly home from St Lucia.
Topley sustained an injury during the first T20. Here are some details of how from Cameron Ponsonby’s match report.
Topley, who has a long history of serious injuries, bowled one more ball, slipped and fell. As he lay on the ground in pain, the covers finally came on. After the restart, he bowled a single delivery that was struck for six and left the pitch immediately in clear discomfort. As he walked up the changing room stairs, he grabbed a nearby plastic chair and smashed it over the bannister in frustration.
The umpires are huddled and prodding their feet around a patch of the outfield literally one yard from the boundary. Not sure that is where the game is going to be won and lost, lads.
The covers are currently on the pitch, but that seems to be a pre-cautionary measure, rather than there being rain in the air.
The start has been delayed to 8.15pm GMT at the Daren Sammy Stadium due to a wet outfield. We will have the toss imminently.
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Earlier today, Glen Maxwell did Glen Maxwell things for Australia against Pakistan.
Wednesday marked two years since England’s men became world T20 champions.
Preamble
Hello world! A rare over-by-over report for me tonight (be kind) as England look to win this five-match T20 series at the earliest available opportunity. That would be a welcome return to form for Jos Buttler and co after the ODI series defeat here in the West Indies.
Buttler spoke last week about the threat of losing the England captaincy after the T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to India and so a strong performance here is absolutely imperative. England will be going all out for a whitewash T20 series win, especially after the ODI failure.
After the feel-good match-winning performances in Barbados of Phil Salt and Jacob Bethall – two England players that were raised on the island – we turn now to St Lucia for the third T2o. Based upon the below video, it looks absolutely awful there right now. Both the fourth and fifth T20s of this series will also be played here.
"That doesn't count, the water came in!" 😅🌊
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 14, 2024
Take a look at the best of the action as Adil Rashid and Jafer Chohan took on some beach cricket 🏖️🏏
🌴 #WIvENG 🏴 | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/WzuIPcidFC
Play starts at 8pm GMT, or 3pm if you are lucky enough to be in St Lucia.
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