HOSTS WIN LOW-SCORING THRILLER TO SEAL SERIES

 WEST INDIES V ENGLAND - FIFTH AND DECIDING T20I AS IT HAPPENED AS HOSTS WIN LOW-SCORING THRILLER TO SEAL SERIES

Re-live TNT Sports' live text coverage of the fifth and final T20I between West Indies and England in Tarouba. Jos Buttler's men fought their way back to parity in the series thanks largely to some ferocious hitting from opener Phil Salt, who has back-to-back hundreds to his name. But it was West Indies who came out on top in a low-scorer thriller that decided the series.

WEST INDIES WIN THE MATCH AND SERIES

What a contrast that was to the previous game in Trinidad. A record-breaking run-fest has been followed by a low-scoring thriller at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, with West Indies holding their nerve to win the series against England 3-2 and complete an ODI and T20 double over the tourists.

England’s 132 all out was unlikely to be enough despite a tricky batting surface making runs hard to come by, yet England’s bowling attack ensured the encounter went right to the last over.

WEST INDIES V ENGLAND

HOW TO WATCH WEST INDIES V ENGLAND ON TNT SPORTS AND DISCOVERY+

YESTERDAY AT 18:37

The excellent of Reece Topley and Chris Woakes with the new ball gave England’s spinners something to work with, and Adil Rashid was the pick of the bowlers again with his outstanding 2-21 from four overs.

But West Indies had enough to spare to get over the line with four wickets and four balls to spare, as Shai Hope played the sort of anchor innings that he’s in the team for, finishing unbeaten on a run-a-ball 43* and hitting the winning runs for six off Woakes

The game was effectively won in the first half, when West Indies spin duo of Akeal Hosein (2-20) and Gudakesh Motie (3-24) helped run through England.

And both teams will finish the series with plenty to ponder, especially with a T20 World Cup back in the Caribbean being just six months away.

WATCH TNT SPORTS ON DISCOVERY+

TNT Sports customers who want to stream live sport content, including international cricket, the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Premiership Rugby, MotoGP, UFC, Boxing and WWE, are encouraged to download the discovery+ app at the earliest opportunity. 

WEST INDIES WIN BY FOUR WICKETS

Woakes takes the ball for the final over, with nine needed.

The first ball squirts through the in-field and West Indies run three, with Rehan doing superbly to stop the ball just short of the rope and save a run.

But Hope finishes the match in emphatic style, opening up his stance and carving away the classiest of sixes to win the game with four balls remaining.

WEST INDIES 124-6 (HOPE 37, HOLDER 1) TARGET: 133 OVERS: 19

Runs Required: 9 Deliveries Remaining: 6

Curran’s death bowling was the strength in his game as he starred in the T20 World Cup win a year ago, and gives a timely reminder of his quality.

The left-armer sends down a rank full toss that he gets away with near the start of the over. But it’s wickets rather than dot balls that are key here for England, and Curran gets Russell with another full toss, missing his yorker by miles but not being punished as Russell picks out Livingstone with a skier to go for 3 from 8.

Curran finishes off almost completing a run out to remove Holder off the last ball of the over, failing to turn Rashid’s throw onto the stumps with Holder well short of his ground.

Fair play to Curran, he sent down four excellent deliveries in that over and got the wicket that England desperately needed.

WEST INDIES 122-5 (HOPE 36, RUSSELL 3) TARGET: 133 OVERS: 18

Runs Required: 11 Deliveries Remaining: 12

Rehan has been dangerous but expensive in this series and bowls his final over of the tour. Hope finds the gap with a late cut to the rope off the fifth ball of the over and England’s heads drop.

Rehan finishes with figures of 0-36. Two big hits would do it for West Indies from here.

WEST INDIES 114-5 (HOPE 30, RUSSELL 1) TARGET: 133 OVERS: 17

Runs Required: 19 Deliveries Remaining: 18

Hope for England as Powell slices a catch straight to Rashid at short third off Topley, going for 8 from 6.

It’s an excellent over from Topley, going for just the two runs as the low-scoring nerve-jangler heads into the death overs.

WEST INDIES 112-4 (HOPE 29, POWELL 8) TARGET: 133 OVERS: 16

Runs Required: 21 Deliveries Remaining: 24

That’s the over, West Indies are in complete control now.

Hope cuts extremely fine off Rehan to pick up a boundary off the first ball of the over, and a huge six from Powell over log on gives West Indies the run rate boost they were looking for.

England won’t defend this from here on runs alone. It’s all about wickets.

(ads)

WEST INDIES 99-4 (HOPE 23, POWELL 1) TARGET: 133 OVERS: 15

Runs Required: 34 Deliveries Remaining: 30

England gamble by giving Rashid his final over as they hunt for wickets and it pays off, as Rutherford carves a catch straight to Curran at extra cover. It’s a decent catch and a very timely wicket for England, with Rutherford departing for 30 from 24.