Harry Brook and Phil Salt leapt into each other’s arms: a reaction of joyful disbelief mixed, surely, with simple relief. As Brook scythed a wide delivery over third man, and then Andre Russell slumped to the floor in disbelief, England completed one of the most astounding heists in their limited-overs history. Needing 223, and then 71 from the last 24 balls, Brook and Salt powered England to victory with a ball to spare.
The wider context, of course, elevates this seven-wicket victory to an altogether higher plane. England didn’t just need to win to stay in the series. They also needed to win to avoid extending one of the bleakest runs in their white-ball history to four wins from 15 games across both limited-overs formats.
Victories in cricket games, let alone mere white-ball bilateral series, seldom feel more restorative. Salt’s belligerent century, and Brook’s brutal seven-ball 31 not out, might yet be a formative moment for this new England side: a win that could galvanise the team in a way that a routine victory never could. For all the concern about England’s steep landing from the heights reached by the 2015-22 side, here was a tantalising hint of what a new generation could yet achieve.
Of course no run chase, not even one this brilliant, can make up for the travails of recent months. But these heady final overs, and the sheer excitement about seeing Salt and Brook play with undiluted verve, restored something that has been so amiss from English white-ball cricket in recent months: a sense of fun.
Perhaps the sheer magnitude of England’s task – they had only successfully chased more in one previous T20, against South Africa in the 2016 T20 World Cup – brought with it a certain sense of clarity.
! 🏏
Just watch this final over… Harry Brook take a bow! 👏#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/raErDRlvTZ
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 16, 2023
“It certainly narrows the mind as to what you need to do,” Salt said. “We spoke in the middle about trying to leave 60 or 70 off the last five – we felt that was something we could do.
“There is no more special feeling than walking off a ground in an England shirt, winning the game.” Especially not when the team so craves a win.
Aged 27, Salt has always remained locked-out of England’s first-choice white-ball sides: a victim of the understandable reluctance to move on from the generation who transformed limited-overs cricket. No longer. After encouraging performances throughout the white-ball tour to the Caribbean, this innings was affirmation of Salt’s suitability to the international stage: the clean-striking; the ability to maintain his balance in his shot; the smartness to pick his bowler and his shot.
On a sweltering day, Salt’s stamina was as impressive. In the 19th over, already past his century, he crunched Alzarri Joseph over long on for his ninth six; all were in the arc between deep midwicket and long off. While Salt has a fine scoop, he recognised that, on a pitch conducive to hitting through the line of the ball, he should trust in his power and timing.
Salt’s ability to start an innings in such a way has not been in doubt. But what has been is Salt’s ability to finish one. Yet after lifting England to 73-0 off the Powerplay, Salt kept the target in reach – if only just about – while his team-mates stumbled. Then, in between regular drinks to remain hydrated in the heat, Salt crashed 28 off the last nine balls. In the final over, while Brook was marmalising Russell, Salt still had the fitness to scamper back for a two to keep his partner on strike.
“He’s got such great intent from ball one,” said captain Jos Buttler, whose 51 set-up the chase. “That’s something we’ve asked him to do and he’s always played that way. But for him to go on and bat through, it’s something we’ve spoken about as a team.”
These undefeated 109 runs will also make Salt significantly richer. The next Indian Premier League auction is on Tuesday, the day of the fourth T20. Several of the 10 franchises might now have designs on Salt now bringing his blistering hitting to their colours too.
Salt’s nine sixes meant that, for the first time this series, England won the battle of the sixes. After plundering 14 in the series opener and another 13 in the second game in Grenada on Thursday, West Indies cleared the ropes 16 times. But after mustering 14 sixes across the first two T20Is, England launched 18 in Grenada.
West Indies’ own batting gave no hint that their run of victories might be ending. Even losing both openers – including Kyle Mayers to a terrific delivery from the returning Reece Topley – within the first nine balls merely delayed England’s pain. Nicholas Pooran’s regal 82 particularly showed off his penchant for attacking leg spin, launching Adil Rashid over square leg twice in three balls in the 18th over.
England’s plight seemed to be embodied by the unsalutary start to the 19th over. Attempting a yorker, Sam Curran speared the ball too wide; it then went between Buttler’s legs for five wides. In one of the largest exporters of the spice in the world, this was the wrong sort of nutmeg.
But such early toil proved merely the prelude to England’s stunning chase. Should better days lie ahead – including when England return to the Caribbean for next year’s T20 World Cup – Buttler and head coach Matthew Mott will have happy cause to recall this heady afternoon in Grenada.
England pull off stunning victory – as it happened
09:55 PM GMT
Look at his face! Just look at his face!
09:26 PM GMT
Saturday night entertainment
09:21 PM GMT
Watch: Brook smashes 21 from the last over
! 🏏
Just watch this final over… Harry Brook take a bow! 👏#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/raErDRlvTZ
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 16, 2023
09:20 PM GMT
Jos Buttler’s verdict
Any time you chase over 220 is a fantastic effort – hats off to Phil Salt, that was a brilliant innings, full credit to him. He’s got such great intent from ball one but it was great that he could be there at the end. After the last game we talked about staying in the game a bit longer, and that you can surprise yourself with what you can do at the back end. I thought we held the momentum a lot better today, and it was a great effort from Harry Brook to finish the game off.
We’ve tried a lot with the ball, guys bowling in different phases. The faster the spinners can bowl into the wicket, the tougher it looks for the batters. And I think also for the seamers – trying to take pace off but not too much. If you’re a little bit off in T20, especially on a small ground against big hitters, they get after you. That’s the nature of the game.
It’s great to win the game – winning games of cricket is what we’re here for – and keep the series alive.
09:15 PM GMT
The West Indies captain Rovman Powell reacts
It’s obviously disappointing to score 220 and lose, but the guys gave it a fair shot. As a batting group, it was a good effort and the way we finished was tremendous. The bowlers bowled well in patches. It’s just unfortunate that it didn’t come off today – it’s a small ground, good wicket, and credit has to be given to Phil Salt and company. They fought hard in what is a very good series.
09:12 PM GMT
The player of the match is a very tired Phil Salt
It feels like it’s been a long time coming in an England shirt. It’s special to do it now, especially with the series on the line. Brooky came in and played a helluva knock at the end.
We talked as a group about trying to take it deep and for somebody to be the matcwinner. It’s about playing my game and doing it my way.
08:59 PM GMT
OVER 20: ENGLAND 226/3 (Salt 109, Brook 31)
Phil Salt looks utterly shattered as he shakes hands with the West Indies team. He made a wonderful 109 not out from 56 balls – but he was overshadowed at the end by the genius of Harry Brook, who hit 31 off seven balls. He might just be Generation Z’s version of Kevin Pietersen.
The contrasting reactions at the end were lovely. Harry Brook clenched his fist fairly calmly, as if it was just another day’s work. Salt bounded down the field to embrace Booth, jumping and screaming in the delightful knowledge that his century had come in an England victory.
It feels telling that, for the first time in the series, England (18) hit more sixes than West Indies (16).
08:57 PM GMT
ENGLAND WIN BY SEVEN WICKETS WITH ONE BALL REMAINING!
Harry Brook, remember the name. He slashes Russell over third man for six more to complete a sensational victory for England, equalling their second-highest in a T20 international.
08:56 PM GMT
19.4 OVERS: ENG 220/3 (Salt 109, Brook 25)
Brook slugs Russell into the leg side and hares back for two. He wants to hit the winning runs.
08:54 PM GMT
19.3 OVERS: ENG 218/3 (Salt 109, Brook 23)
Six more from Brook! A waist-high full toss from Russell is whipped over long leg with devastating hand speed! England need five from three balls. The umpires need to find a new ball because that went miles.
08:53 PM GMT
19.2 OVERS: ENG 212/3 (Salt 109, Brook 11)
A wonderful shot from Brook, who drives Russell over extra cover for six! He has 17 from four balls, England need 11 from four.
08:52 PM GMT
19.1 OVERS: ENG 206/3 (Salt 109, Brook 11)
Here comes Andre Russell to bowl the final over, and Brook clips his first ball past short fine leg for four! England need 17 from five balls.
08:49 PM GMT
OVER 19: ENG 202/3 (Salt 109, Brook 7)
The penultimate over starts badly for England, with Salt only able to take two from the first three deliveries. He clobbers the next over long on for six, the ninth of his innings, but England can only manage a single off each of the last two deliveries. They need 21 from six balls. They need Carlos Brathwaite.
08:47 PM GMT
OVER 18: ENG 192/3 (Salt 100, Brook 6)
Harry Brook strolls to the crease, takes guard and drives Jason Holder’s first ball back over his head for a massive six! His talent is absurd.
Phil Salt’s isn’t bad either. He raced from 87 to 99 with successive sixes over midwicket and long on, then reverted to the humble single to bring up three figures from 51 balls. He’s the fifth man to score a T20 international hundred for England after Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone and Jos Buttler.
08:44 PM GMT
Wicket!
Livingstone c Powell b Holder 30 The ball after Phil Salt reached a marvellous century, Liam Livingstone clunks Holder straight down long-on’s throat. England need 37 from 13 balls. FOW: 186/3
08:39 PM GMT
OVER 17: ENG 172/2 (Salt 87, Livingstone 29)
Twenty from the over!
Livingstone breaks his wrists to whip Joseph over square leg for another big six. A front-foot no-ball means a free hit for Livingstone, but he can’t beat Powell at long-on. With Joseph bowling very full, long-on and long-off are both in the game, and a sizzling straight drive from Salt is spectacularly grabbed by King, sliding forward at long-off. That saved two runs.
Joseph misses his length with the last ball, though, and Salt butchers a low full toss into the crowd. England need 51 from 18 balls.
08:32 PM GMT
Watch: Russell dismisses Buttler for 51
08:32 PM GMT
OVER 16: ENG 152/2 (Salt 76, Livingstone 21)
Salt hits his first boundary since the 10th over, clubbing Russell over midwicket for six. England need at least one huge over if they are going to win this game. But this isn’t the one: Russell concedes six more from the last five balls to push the required rate even higher. England need 71 from 24 balls.
08:27 PM GMT
OVER 15: ENG 140/2 (Salt 68, Livingstone 17)
Livingstone hangs back in his crease to pummel a full ball from Joseph over long-off. Even with that six, England can only manage 12 from the over. It’s not enough; the required rate is almost 17.
08:23 PM GMT
OVER 14: ENG 128/2 (Salt 65, Livingstone 9)
A low full toss from Holder is pinged round the corner for six by Livingstone, who is then beaten by a brilliant slower ball that bounces twice before reaching Pooran.
Salt is bemused when a leg-side wide isn’t called by the umpire. Then he clubs the last ball of the over towards long-off, where Powell dives forward to grab the ball and immediately signals that it didn’t carry. He’s a really impressive guy, and he’s probably six overs away from leading West Indies to a series victory.
08:17 PM GMT
OVER 13: ENG 119/2 (Salt 64, Livingstone 2)
Liam Livingstone’s first delivery spits viciously to beat the outside edge and bounce just over the stump. He survives a run-out referral later in the over after being called for a tight single on the off side. The dive saved him.
That’s the end of another very impressive performance from Gudakesh Motie. His first over was bullied for 18 but after changing ends he conceded only 12 from three overs. The upshot is that England now need almost 15 an over: 104 from 42 balls.
08:14 PM GMT
Wicket!
Jacks c Pooran b Motie 1 Motie strikes! That was a painful cameo from Jacks, 1 from 6 deliveries. He middled only one of them and was put out of his burgeoning misery when he top-edged a quicker ball through to Pooran. England are in a bit of bother. FOW: 116/2
08:12 PM GMT
OVER 12: ENG 116/1 (Salt 63, Jacks 1)
The new batsman Will Jacks can’t time his first few deliveries. That’s an outstanding over from Russell – just five from it, and four of those came off the first ball. West Indies might be turning the screw: the last four overs have gone for only 24.
08:08 PM GMT
Wicket!
Buttler c Joseph b Russell 51 Jos Buttler falls the ball after reaching his fifty. He top-edged a hook off Andre Russell towards deep backward square, where Hosein took the catch and lobbed the ball to Joseph before his feet went over the rope. A nice relay catch to end a good innings from Buttler: 51 from 34 balls. FOW: 115/1
08:06 PM GMT
OVER 11: ENG 111/0 (Salt 63, Buttler 47)
Motie is starting to tie England down. He looks innocuous enough but there must be a particular subtlety to his variations. At least England are milking him more effectively than in the second game: five from his last over, four from this one.
08:00 PM GMT
OVER 10: ENG 107/0 (Salt 61, Buttler 45)
Salt waves Hosein over long-off for six more, which brings up a punishing and authoritative hundred partnership – England’s first for any wicket in a T20 international since Jos Buttler and Alex Hales destroyed India in last year’s World Cup semi-final. Time for drinks, with a red-faced Salt looking in urgent need of his surname.
07:57 PM GMT
OVER 9: ENG 97/0 (Salt 53, Buttler 43)
Motie returns to the attack, this time from the end where he bowled so well on Thursday. He’s played more respectfully, with Buttler and Salt settling for five low-risk singles. England need 126 from 66 balls.
07:53 PM GMT
OVER 8: ENG 92/0 (Salt 51, Buttler 40)
Salt picks a slower bouncer from Holder and pulls it round the corner for another four. Another pull, this time for two, takes him to a cracking fifty: 26 balls, 4×4, 3×6. It’s the third half-century of his fledgling T20I career.
07:49 PM GMT
OVER 7: ENG 81/0 (Salt 41, Buttler 39)
Alzarri Joseph’s first ball is picked and pulled for four by Buttler. A no-ball means a free hit, though Buttler can only clatter it to long on for a single. Joseph concedes only two from the last four balls of an increasingly good over.
07:43 PM GMT
OVER 6: ENG 73/0 (Salt 40, Buttler 33)
Now then. It’s time for the left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, whose four overs on Thursday went for just nine runs.
He concedes twice as many in his first over today. Salt drives two languid leg-side sixes either side of another emphatic reverse-sweep for four by Buttler. This has been a superb partnership – not just the scoring rate but the relaxed certainty of the strokeplay.
07:38 PM GMT
OVER 5: ENG 55/0 (Salt 27, Buttler 28)
Salt charges Joseph and crashes four to long-on. A handsome reverse sweep for four from Buttler brings up an excellent fifty partnership from 28 balls. The openers have given England a chance of pulling this off; they need 168 from 15 overs.
07:35 PM GMT
OVER 4: ENG 44/0 (Salt 21, Buttler 23)
Andre Russell matchwinner in the first game, buffet bowler in the second – comes into the attack. He starts well, conceding only (!) nine from his first over. The only boundary was a cracker, a yorker that Salt pinged square on the off side.
07:31 PM GMT
OVER 3: ENG 35/0 (Salt 13, Buttler 22)
Buttler drags Hosein past mid-on for four, with the fielder Russell going down in instalments. He usually likes to take a bit of time to get his eye in. Today there is no time and he has raced to 22 from nine balls.
07:29 PM GMT
OVER 2: ENG 25/0 (Salt 12, Buttler 13)
Both England openers survive a strange incident during Jason Holder’s first over. Salt missed a premeditated sweep and was hit on the pad, prompting a big LBW appeal. While that was being turned down by the umpire, Buttler tried to steal a single and ran almost the full 22 yards before being sent back. Holder’s throw missed the stumps, so Buttler survived, at which point West Indies reviewed the LBW against Salt.
Replays showed the ball would hit hit the top of the leg bail: umpire’s call and therefore not out. Salt completed the over by spanking a huge leg-side six.
07:23 PM GMT
OVER 1: ENG 13/0 (Salt 1, Buttler 12)
Oof, Salt almost goes first ball, dragging a ball from Hosein just past the stumps. Buttler makes a more auspicious start, belting the last two balls down the ground for six. England are ahead of the rate!
07:19 PM GMT
The players are back out already
And Akeal Hosein is about to bowl to Phil Salt.
07:09 PM GMT
OVER 20: WI 222/6 (Russell 8, Holder 18)
Reece Topley, whose early snorter to dismiss Kyle Mayers feels a long time ago, returns for the final over. Russell doesn’t connect properly with a couple of full tosses, but Holder assumes six-hitting duties with the sweetest of golf swings back over Topley’s head.
A beautifully placed chip over midwicket brings four more, and he blazes the last delivery over the covers for six more! It’s the 16th six of the innings, and West Indies finish just two short of their highest ever T20 score against England. Holder’s cameo was a gem, 18 not out from five balls, and West Indies scored an eye-watering 79 off the last four overs.
England need 223 to keep the series alive. It isn’t quite be a record target: they chased 230 against South Africa at the 2016 World Cup and 223 against the same opponents four years later. But this game will take a deal of winning.
16 sixes for West Indies in the 3rd T20, after 14 in the first game and 13 in the second.
Far too much power and depth for England’s bowlers so far this series
— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) December 16, 2023
07:03 PM GMT
OVER 19: WI 204/6 (Russell 7, Holder 1)
Andre Russell says farewell to Curran by larruping his final delivery down the ground for six. That also brings up the West Indies 200. Curran finishes with 3-0-33-2.
07:01 PM GMT
Wicket!
Rutherford c Salt b Curran 29
Curran starts the penultimate over with a wide that bounces twice, nutmegs Buttler and runs away for four. Rutherford picks a wide slower ball and clatters it over mid-off for six, but Curran has the last word with a wide bouncer that Rutherford hoicks down the throat of long on. That wicket might be the difference between a target of 210 and 220. FOW: 197/6
06:56 PM GMT
OVER 18: WI 183/5 (Rutherford 22, Russell 0)
Rashid finishes with 4-0-32-2. Pooran’s innings was a beauty: a career-best 82 from 45 balls with six sixes. The last 28 runs came off seven deliveries.
06:55 PM GMT
Wicket!
Pooran c Livingstone b Rashid 82 Six, six and out for Nicholas Pooran. He swept Rashid over the ropes twice in three balls, and was looking for another when he picked out Livingstone at cow corner. Rashid, who didn’t appreciate such disrespect, clenched his teeth before punching the air in Pooran’s direction. FOW: 183/5
06:50 PM GMT
OVER 17: WI 168/4 (Pooran 68, Rutherford 21)
Correction: England had pulled it back quite well. Tymal Mills’ second over has just disappeared for 25.
Rutherford took 10 off the first two balls, belting a slower ball whence it came for four and pulling a quicker one into the crowd. A kitchen-sink drive bounced this far short of the cover sweeper Atkinson, with the resulting single bringing Pooran on strike.
He slugged a slower short ball for four, launched a spectacular six over cover and snicked wide of short third man for four more. That was brutal.
06:45 PM GMT
OVER 16: WI 143/4 (Pooran 54, Rutherford 10)
Adil Rashid returns to bowl his third over, and Pooran opens the face to glide a classy boundary past Topley at short third man. That brings up a stylish, clear-headed fifty from 37 balls.
A googly leads to an unsuccessful LBW appeal against Rutherford. I think it pitched outside leg and Buttler decides not to review.
England have pulled this back quite well, with 28 runs from the last four overs. The wicket of Rovman Powell sure helped.
06:38 PM GMT
OVER 15: WI 135/4 (Pooran 48, Rutherford 8)
Rutherford stands tall to slap a slower ball from Curran through backward point for his first boundary. Curran still looks up for the scrap despite a very difficult winter; apart from another slower ball that slips out of the hand for a wide, that was another excellent over. He has figures of 2-0-13-1 and has restored a bit of order, at least for now.
06:36 PM GMT
OVER 14: WI 126/4 (Pooran 47, Rutherford 1)
Pooran greets the returning Moeen with a gorgeous inside-out drive for four. Then the new batter Rutherford is beaten by his opening two deliveries, the first of which turned and bounced grotesquely to hit the pad and deflect to slip. West Indies’ spinners, who caused England so many problems on Thursday, will fancy their chances on this surface.
06:34 PM GMT
OVER 13: WI 120/4 (Pooran 42, Rutherford 0)
That was a very good bouncer from Curran – deceptively sharp, and wide enough that Powell had to fetch the ball.
06:28 PM GMT
Wicket!
Powell c Buttler b Curran 39
Sam Curran assumes the position in place of Gus Atkinson. He has an LBW appeal against Powell turned down – but Jos Buttler reviews, possibly out of desperation. It pitched outside leg and England lose a review.
But they pick up a huge wicket later in the over. Powell top-edges a hook high in the air, and his opposite number Buttler takes an easy catch. That’s a vital breakthrough because Powell, who walloped 39 from 20 balls, was looking extremely dangerous. FOW: 120/4
06:25 PM GMT
OVER 12: WI 115/3 (Pooran 40, Powell 38)
Powell slog-sweeps Livingstone for successive sixes, the second an absolute beast, and a couple of wides bring up a rapid fifty partnership
West Indies have a simple approach. Treat Rashid and Topley will respect; take everyone else to the cleaners. The rest of the England attack have combined figures of 7-0-90-1.
06:21 PM GMT
OVER 11: WI 97/3 (Pooran 38, Powell 24)
Gus Atkinson is being pulverised. Powell and Pooran both pull him for six, which makes it 33 for West Indies in this series. That’s also how many runs Atkinson has conceded, in two overs.
06:13 PM GMT
OVER 10: WI 81/3 (Pooran 31, Powell 15)
Powell inside-edges Rashid fractionally wide of leg stump, a moment of fortune that could have a big impact on this match. Powell doesn’t look comfortable against Rashid, but he does manage to muscle a slog-sweep for four later in the over. If he is still at the crease after 15 overs, England will have a major problem.
06:10 PM GMT
OVER 9: WI 73/3 (Pooran 30, Powell 9)
Tymal Mills comes on for Liam Livingstone. Powell pulls four, a very well-placed shot, before being denied his first six by a brilliant piece of fielding from at Atkinson. He leapt backwards over the boundary and managed to knock the ball back onto the field before his feet touched the floor; in doing so, he saved five runs.
It’s still a good over for West Indies, though, and Powell lashes the last delivery over cover for four more.
06:04 PM GMT
OVER 8: WI 62/3 (Pooran 28, Powell 0)
The captain Rovman Powell has promoted himself to No5. He feels nervously for his first ball, a widish legspinner, and is beaten. That prompts Jos Buttler to bring in a second slip; he knows how important it is to get Powell early.
“Two slips in place from Jos Buttler to greet Rovman Powell against Adil Rashid,” writes Tim Wigmore in Grenada. “Very aggressive captaincy and a sign of the trust in Rashid.”
06:02 PM GMT
Wicket!
Hope c Salt b Rashid 26 Adil Rashid makes the breakthrough in his first over; of course he does. Shai Hope slog-swept his first ball from Rashid towards cow corner, where Phil Salt leapt to take a good two-handed catch. Rashid is bowling quite beautifully right now. FOW: 62/3
05:59 PM GMT
OVER 7: WI 61/2 (Pooran 27, Hope 26)
Adil Rashid often comes on for the seventh over of an innings. Today it’s Liam Livingstone, and his second ball is walloped back over his head by Pooran for a huge six. That brings up the fifty partnership in only 29 balls, an exceptional response to the loss of two early wickets.
You can never be sure with West Indies, given their mercurial nature, but at the moment they look like serious contenders for next year’s World Cup in the Caribbean.
05:55 PM GMT
OVER 6: WI 52/2 (Pooran 19, Hope 25)
Even in the last over of the Powerplay, West Indies handle Topley with care, picking up three singles and a two to deep point. Excellent stuff from Topley, who has figures of 3-0-14-1.
05:51 PM GMT
OVER 5: WI 47/2 (Pooran 17, Hope 22)
Hello! Shai Hope greets Gus Atkinson with an elegant check drive over long on for six. “This is one of the great shots of all time…” says David Gower on commentary.
It’s the start of an expensive over that disappears for 18. Pooran forces a drive over mid-on for four, then swivel-pulls majestically for six.
05:47 PM GMT
OVER 4: WI 29/2 (Pooran 6, Hope 15)
This is Topley’s first game since he broke his finger against South Afrca in October. He has started really well, but his fifth ball is slightly off line and Pooran whips it past short fine leg for four. That’s the only boundary from an otherwise good over.
05:43 PM GMT
OVER 3: WI 22/2 (Pooran 1, Hope 13)
Shai Hope hits the first of many sixes in this match, cuffing Moeen straight back over his head. A misfield from Jacks in the covers costs Moeen four more. This pitch is still doing a bit for the spinners, so 12 off the over is a good result for West Indies.
05:39 PM GMT
OVER 2: WI 10/2 (Pooran 0, Hope 2)
That ball from Topley to Mayers gets better every time you see it. It’s such a shame he has so many problems with injury because in the last couple of years he has been close to world-class.
05:36 PM GMT
Wicket!
Mayers c Buttler b Topley 0 Reece Topley, who bowls so well to left-handers, needs just three deliveries to pick up Kyle Mayers for a duck! It was a snorting delivery that seamed and bounced extravagantly to turn Mayers round and take a thin edge. Jos Buttler did the rest. FOW: 8/2
” ‘ !”
A bright start for England with 2⃣ early wickets 🙌#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/aUkTAUSa8W
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 16, 2023
05:33 PM GMT
OVER 1: WI 8/1 (Mayers 0, Pooran 0)
Nicholas Pooran again comes in at No3, ahead of Shai Hope. On Thursday was assumed that was to maintain a left/right-hand combination but now there are two lefties at the crease.
05:32 PM GMT
Wicket!
King b Moeen 8 Moeen Ali strikes with the fifth ball of the match! Brandon King, who struck two boundaries earlier in the over, was bowled through the gate by a lovely delivery that turned sharply from a fullish length. FOW: 8/1
05:13 PM GMT
From Tim Wigmore in Grenada
Good afternoon from sweltering Grenada. England’s two changes give the side a different feel – with Ahmed and Woakes out, there is less batting depth, and so more onus upon the top order. After a fine ODI World Cup until his injury, Topley will be eager to impress.
05:07 PM GMT
Team news: Topley and Atkinson in for England
West Indies make one change, with Sherfane Rutherford replacing the out-of-form Shimron Hetmyer. England bring in Reece Topley and Gus Atkinson for Rehan Ahmed and Chris Woakes.
West Indies King, Mayers, Hope, Pooran (wk), Rutherford, Powell (c), Russell, Motie, Holder, Hosein, Joseph.
England Salt, Buttler (c/wk), Jacks, Livingstone, Brook, Moeen, Curran, Atkinson, Rashid, Topley, Mills.
05:04 PM GMT
England win the toss and bowl
No surprise there – chasing has been a big advantage on this tour, even if England couldn’t get over the line on Thursday. They’re playing on the same pitch today, though it should be less tacky than it was 48 hours ago.
The West Indies captain Rovman Powell would have fielded first as well. “It looks a better pitch, so hopefully it provides a runfest for us batters.”
04:19 PM GMT
Preview
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live, over-by-over coverage of the third T2o international between West Indies and England in Grenada. England have lost nine of their last 12 white-ball games, but it’s not quite the same old story. In India they were routinely hammered; in the West Indies their four defeats have all been close. In some ways that’s even more worrying, because it suggests England have forgotten how to win.
It’s far from ideal, especially so close to another World Cup defence, and they need to win today to keep the five-match series alive. While there’s no disgrace in losing to West Indies, who have already beaten South Africa and India at home this year, a 5-0 or 4-1 defeat would increase the pressure on Matthew Mott and Jos Buttler.
Moeen Ali, Buttler’s unofficial vice-captain, was keen to point out England do not have a full team in the Caribbean. “We still have players to come back – Stokesy, Bairstow and Woody. But there’s no excuse. Our guys have played quite a bit now in T20 cricket. It wasn’t long ago that we won the World Cup.
“We’ve just got to adapt quickly to these conditions because this is what we’re going to get, it will be completely different to last year in Australia. We’ve just got to start winning. We need to grab those moments and recognise those moments straight away.”
England lost by 10 runs in Grenada on Thursday, mainly because, on a slow pitch, they allowed Gudakesh Motie – an orthodox left-arm spinner playing only his second T20 international – to get through his four overs at a cost of just nine runs.
“It is not good enough from our point of view,” said Moeen. “If we’re not going to take him down, we can at least rotate a bit more keep the scoreboard ticking. You always target bowlers and I just think we probably didn’t get it right against their spin.”
At least they haven’t had to wait long for a chance to turn the page.
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