Bridgetown, Barbados-England have taken a 2-0 lead against West Indies with three matches still to play in their five-match T20I series, after posting decisive back-to-back wins at the Kensington Oval, in Bridgetown, Barbados. In contrast, England opening batter Phil Salt’s devastating century was the feature of the visitors’ eight-wicket win on Saturday night, it was their bowlers who set up last night’s facile seven-wicket triumph.
Spinners Dan Mousley, Liam Livingstone, and Saqib Mahmood each of whom took two wickets apiece, in knocking over the West Indies’ top order.
“There seems to be an advantage bowling first,” stated Player of the Match, England skipper Joss Buttler. “And anytime you can take Powerplay wickets in this game, it goes a long way to getting you ahead.”
Buttler inserted the hosts after winning the toss, a decision validated by his spin attack, putting the Caribbean team under pressure early on with three batters back in the hut with just 35 on the board in just the fourth over, before a late flourish saw them reach a respectable, if inadequate, 158 for eight from their allotted 20 overs.
In their run chase, England reached 161 for three, winning with 31 balls to spare.
The Windies, momentarily, held out hope of an unlikely victory when Akeal Hosein had first-game centurion Salt caught by Brandon King for a “golden duck”. But Captain Buttler (83) and Will Jacks (38) featured in a century partnership to right the ship. And by the time both had been removed by Romario Sheppard (2-42) the winning post was within touching distance of the tourists.
At the finish, Livingstone was unbeaten on 23 with Jacob Bethell (three not out).
Captain Rovman Powell top-scored for the hosts with 43 (41 balls). He said: “I think it’s just a case of us coming out the powerplay not three (wickets) down. In both games, we come out the Powerplay three wickets down, and if we look at the statistics, it says most times if you come out the Powerplay three wickets down you end up on the losing side.”
Yesterday, West Indies made three changes from the first match, with Roston Chase replacing Shimron Hetmyer, Matthew Forde coming in for Shamar Joseph, and Trinidadian all-rounder Terrance Hinds subbing for the injured Andre Russell.
After Powell was dismissed with a score of 102 for six. Sheppard gave the West Indies’ score a look of respectability with a quick-fire 22 (12 balls) before he was caught by Jacks off Mousley. And Matthew Forde also had a bit of a cameo toward the back end of the innings, striking 13 from just six deliveries.
Earlier, Brandon King (one), Evin Lewis (eight), and Roston Chase (13) failed to fire. Meanwhile, Livingstone picked up the prized scalp of Nicholas Pooran (14)– who missed when advancing down the wicket and was stumped by Salt, the score 70 for four after 11 overs.
When Sherfane Rutherford (one) was deceived by Livingstone and adjudged lbw, it left West Indies with much to do to attain a winnable total, despite the best effort of their captain.
England will look to seal the deal with victory in the third match as the series switches to St Lucia on Thursday.