England Thrash West Indies in Third T20I

Ben Duckett blasted 84 off 46 balls to lead England to victory over West Indies in the third T20I

Match Summary

SOUTHAMPTON, England, CMC – West Indies produced another inept performance and were duly thrashed by England by 37 runs in the third and final T20I here on Tuesday.

The home side took advantage of a wayward bowling effort by the West Indies after being sent in to bat at the Utilita Bowl to pile up 248 for three from their 20 overs – their second-highest T20I score and highest at home.

Needing to produce a record chase to end their disappointing tour of the UK in winning fashion, the West Indies never seriously threatened the mammoth total, ending on 211 for eight from their 20 overs.

West Indies’ Disappointing Tour

It brought an end to a miserable tour for the visitors, who failed to win a single match in either the three-match ODI or T20 series.

Once again, the West Indies got very little from openers Evin Lewis and Johnson Charles, who scored nine runs apiece.

Skipper Shai Hope sparkled in his 45 off 27 balls with three sixes and three fours and, along with Shimron Hetmyer, who lashed 26 from eight balls, tried to keep up with the skyrocketing run rate.

England’s Dominant Performance

Earlier, England’s openers Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett blasted the West Indies bowlers all over the ground in a magnificent opening stand of 120 inside nine overs.

After muscling just nine runs from the opening two overs, Player-of-the-Match Duckett hit left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein for six and two fours in the following over, and Smith did the same to medium pacer Romario Shepherd in the fourth over.

Duckett then belted pacer Alzarri Joseph for six and three boundaries in the ensuing over that cost 18 runs as England raced to 69 without loss after five overs.

Key Performances

Spinner Gudakesh Motie broke the partnership by dismissing Smith for 60 off just 26 balls with five sixes and four fours, but Jos Buttler, who made 22 from 10 balls, maintained the momentum.

Buttler’s dismissal was quickly followed by Duckett losing his stumps to Hosein for a well-played 84 off 46 balls that included 10 fours and two sixes as England slipped to 178 for three in the 15th over.

However, there was no reprieve for the West Indies bowlers as captain Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell added 70 runs in the last five overs in an unbroken partnership for the fourth wicket.

Bethell ended on 36, not out off just 16 balls, with four sixes and one four, while Brook finished unbeaten on 35 from 22 balls with two sixes and two fours.

Conclusion

Luke Wood was England’s best bowler with 3-31, and Adil Rashid took 2-30. The win marked a comprehensive victory for England, who outplayed the West Indies in all aspects of the game.