Win Projections to be updated soon
3rd T20I, St George's, December 16, 2023, 11:00 PM
West Indies
222/6(20.0ov)
England
226/3(19.5ov)
England beat West Indies by 7 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Phil Salt
Commentry
Right then, England have re-ignited the series with this gut-wrenching win but West Indies still need one win to seal the series and there are a couple of matches remaining. The 4th T20I will be played on 20 December at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. That game will begin at 1.30 am IST (8 pm GMT) but you can join us much sooner for the build-up. Cheers!
Jos Buttler, the captain of England says, it's great to keep the series alive and is mighty pleased with Phil Salt's knock and talks of the importance of staying on the crease until the end. He speaks about the conditions of the pitch in West Indies and the importance of executing plans, especially in T20's. He concludes with an appreciation talk on Phil Salt's inning along with Harry Brook at the end.
West Indies skipper, Rovman Powell says that it is obviously disappointing to score 220 plus and still lose but the guys did give it their all and the bowlers bowled well in patches. Adds that they have quality guys in the XI to get the job done but it didn't come off in this game and credit must go to Phil Salt and Co. Mentions that they are natural six-hitters and they try to improve in the areas where they aren't that strong. On the spinners, he says that they bowled pretty well in both games here and it is just about taking the next flight and gearing up for the next game.
Phil Salt is the Player of the Match for his unbelievable match-winning century. Salt says that he felt like this big knock was a long time coming and feels great about how he contributed to the victory in this game. He adds that the team has been talking of one player taking responsibility and playing the long innings. He concludes by talking about the process of getting to big scores after getting the start.
The Presentation ceremony...
Earlier in the game, Jos Buttler won the toss and put West Indies into bat on a wicket that looked excellent for batting but the visitors did pick up a couple of quick wickets. Nicholas Pooran though was in a punishing mood and with the help of some solid cameos in the middle order, Pooran scored 82 runs and took his side over the 200-run mark. Holder's 5-ball-18-run cameo in the final over propelled West Indies to over the 220-run mark and put them in pole position. With the ball, the frontline English spinners did bowl well and were economical and so was the returning Reece Topley but the rest of the pack simply leaked too many runs. Coming to the chase, it was a real humdinger but in the end, England had enough muscle with the bat to get the job done.
West Indies had the runs on the board but just didn't have the calmness to get the job done. Akeal Hosein was hammered inside the Powerplay and yet Rovman Powell persisted with him. The pacers too came on and were dealt with quite easily. Gudakesh Motie did bowl a poor first over but came back strongly, giving away just 12 runs in his next 3 overs. A couple of quick wickets then handed the hosts the advantage and they were always just that bit ahead in the game. However, they simply failed to pick up wickets when it mattered most and Andre Russell, for the second game running, was pelted by the opposition but this time he did end up on the losing side as well, giving away 24 runs in the final over.
The highest successful run chase in a T20I game in the Caribbean and what a game to do it in! England were down and out and needed a win to stay alive in the series and they have done just that. Chasing 223, Phil Salt and Jos Buttler laid down the foundation brilliantly with a 115-run opening stand but they lost a couple of quick wickets and soon found themselves in a race against time to keep up with the required rate. Buttler did score a fifty but it was Salt, a drained-looking Salt who kept on trying. Liam Livingstone gave him good support for a bit but he too got out with still a lot to do. Salt channeled his inner strength and put away a few big hits, notching up a fabulous maiden ton in the process. An unfazed Harry Brook then came in with England all but out and smoked 31 runs off 7 balls to seal a famous win.
Wow, wow, wow! Harry Brook has just made it look like a practice session out there and England have pulled off one of the most remarkable run-chases ever in T20I cricket. Take nothing away from Phil Salt though who let out a relieved grunt after Brook hit the winning runs and it really was Salt who was the real hero of this unbelievable run chase.
In over# 20
6
2
6
6
4
Andre Russell 50/1(3.5)
19.5
6
SIX! VICTORY FOR ENGLAND! Harry Brook hits the winning runs! Full-length delivery outside off. Brook makes room and the ball flies off the outside edge and goes over the deep third region for a streaky hit. England have chased down a record total and have won this game by 7 wickets with a ball to spare. The series is still alive as England make it 2-1 with two games to go.
19.4
2
Short of a length around off. Brook mistimes the pull to the deep mid-wicket region and gets back for the second. Just 3 needed off 2 now. England's game to lose from hereon.
19.3
6
SIX MORE! TOO EASY! Full toss slanting down the leg. Brook makes room and helps it over the fine leg region for back-to-back sixes. Just 5 needed now off 3 balls. Poor bowling from Andre Russell and the ball is also lost, new ball, please.
19.2
6
SIX! He made that look easy! Length and just outside off. Brook stays deep in his crease and smacks it over the deep extra cover boundary for a maximum. Pressure right back on Andre Russell and another big hit here will give England the advantage.
19.1
4
FOUR! A boundary to start the final over! Russell went for the leg stump yorker and Brook did well to squirt it through the leg and ran away to the long leg for a boundary.
Andre Russell to bowl the final over. Can he defend 20 runs?
In over# 19
1
1
6
0
2
0
Alzarri Joseph 50/0(4)
18.6
1
Low full toss on off. Brook mistimes the lift to long off for a single. England need 21 off the final over.
18.5
1
Full-length delivery at the stumps, Salt heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one.
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