England breaks 5-year drought, wins first white-ball series in West Indies

England secured a win in the T20 International series against the West Indies by 3-0 with two matches still to go. This win came after a tense, rain-delayed encounter at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia. This marks England’s first white-ball series win in the Caribbean since 2019.

The match began with a 50-minute rain delay, which disrupted the start. West Indies faced early struggles in their innings, quickly finding themselves at 37/5. However, a crucial half-century from captain Rovman Powell helped steady the ship. Powell scored 51, and Romario Shepherd added a valuable 28 runs. This allowed West Indies to set a target of 146 runs for England to chase.

Mahmood shines with the ball for England

Saqib Mahmood was the standout bowler for England, claiming three wickets for just 17 runs, providing England with a strong foundation in the bowling department.

England’s chase began shakily, with opener Phil Salt dismissed for just four runs. Captain Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell also fell cheaply. However, Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone put England back on track, with Curran scoring 41 and Livingstone contributing 39. England managed to chase down the target with four balls to spare.

Akeal Hosein was the best bowler for the West Indies, claiming 4 wickets for 22 runs, but England held their nerve to win the match. Saqib Mahmood was named Player of the Match for his exceptional bowling performance.

A boost after recent disappointments

This victory is a welcome boost for England following their underwhelming performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and this year’s T20 World Cup. The win also continues a trend in the series, with the team winning every match after winning the coin toss – a pattern that has held in all three One Day Internationals and the first two T20s.

With two more T20 matches remaining in St Lucia this weekend, England will be looking to complete a series sweep and finish the tour on a high note.