West Indies vs England, 5th T20I - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: England tour of West Indies, 2023 Venue: Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad Date & Time: Dec 21, 04:00 PM LOCAL
ENG 132 (19.3)
WI 133/6 (19.2)
West Indies won by 4 wkts
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Gudakesh Motie
PLAYER OF THE SERIES
Philip Salt

Windies have picked up another T20I series win. They foiled India's plans in August in a similar manner. They won the decider after having won the first two T20Is and then losing the next two only to clinch the final T20I. They did the exact same thing here. They would have loved a more comfortable ending as the toss played a huge role today. There was dew for the English bowlers to deal with as well. So, Windies would feel a little disappointed having allowed the game to get so close. Powell as a skipper has notched up his third series win. The comeback of Dre Russ, the consistency of Hope and the emergence of Motie in this format would have really pleased the hosts. England would take away a lot of positives from this series. Buttler and his men have now lost both the series and would go back home empty handed. But they would take back the experience of playing at a few WC venues which will be hosting the games in the 2024 WC. That would hopefully keep them in good stead. That's all folks. We are done for the day. This is Kumar Abhisekh Das signing off on behalf of Abhinav Guha and Venky!

Rovman Powell: Special thanks to the crowd of Trinidad and Tobago. We spent some time yesterday. We had some meetings. The last two games, the guys didn't execute. We always knew Hope would be an important batter in this wicket. Credit to the groundsmen across the series. We as players are unhappy so many times. Motie was very good. Was good to mix experience with youth. I have a good bunch of guys around me. I try to lead from the front and they respect me so much.

Jos Buttler: The conditions were different. 160 could have been a good score to defend. We did well to hang in there. Had we got few more runs to play, could have been different. He has had a brilliant series. As a team we would take the learnings. Everyone got a hang of the new rule pretty quickly. The breeze plays a big part here. We have had a fantastic series, would have loved to win it.

Phil Salt, Player of the Series: Disappointing to have come out on the wrong side. Shai played really well. We took it as deep as we could. We have had a long time around this set-up. Have learnt from Jos. Has been a challenge. When we batted first, it was a different wicket and was different when the floodlights came on. You always have more time than you think I suppose.

Gudakesh Motie, Player of the Match: For me, it wasn't too difficult. I knew my ability. The pitch was assisting. Important to hit your lengths when you play international cricket. I have been working on it for over the years. As a finger spinner, you don't get much from the wicket. I prefer all the formats. Test cricket is the most challenging. My second series and am very happy.

19:16 Local Time, 23:16 GMT, 04:46 IST: Windies have won the series 3-2. The win was set up by the bowlers who ensured England were reduced to 132 only and they didn't bat their full quota of overs. 133 was not going to be that tough but Windies lost a few wickets in a soft manner to ensure the game went into the final over. But Hope took his time and then played some crucial shots to take his side over the line. Charles and Rutherford got starts but failed to carry on. Even Dre Russ played an uncharacteristic knock of 3 off 8 balls. But Hope kept his calm and hit the winning sixer to take his team home. It was 11 needed off 2 overs But Curran conceded only two and picked up the wicket of Andre Russell to reignite the hopes of the visitors. But Holder edged one past short fine and then handed it over to Hope. England had Topley and Rashid bowling well but they needed better from Rehan Ahmed who was on the expensive side.

19.2

Woakes to Shai Hope, SIX, fuller ball, outside off, the batter thwacks it over deep cover. Was sliced over cover and Windies take it 3-2. Huge win for the two time world champions. Hope finished off the first ODI and he has finished off the final T20I as well. Windies win by 4 wickets with four balls to spare

19.1

Woakes to Holder, 3 runs, excellent stop by Rehan. That was a fuller ball, outside off, Holder wanted to heave it and got a thick inside edge on it. They get a triple. One hit away now. 6 needed off 5 balls now

Chris Woakes [3.0-0-19-1] is back into the attack

18.6

Sam Curran to Holder, 1 run, drills it and lands short of the man at cover. The fielder there looked for a direct hit and missed. Had Curran been behind the sticks, it could have had Holder well short of his crease. 9 needed off 6 balls

Jason Holder, right handed bat, comes to the crease

18.5

Sam Curran to Russell, out Caught by Livingstone!! Dre Russ misses out here. He consumed a few dot balls and now is gone off a full toss. That's not the type of innings you would have wanted from him. That was a full toss, angled across, Russell wanted to slam it across the line but failed to clear the ropes. The ball went really high and Livingstone at long-on took a good catch. Only one off the over so far and Curran has been superb. Russell c Livingstone b Sam Curran 3(8)

Sam Curran to Russell, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

18.4

Sam Curran to Russell, no run, bangs it in short, the batter looks to pull and misses. Got it off the cue-end of the bat and back to the bowler. The ball climbed up and Russell failed to hit it on top of the bounce. 10 needed off 8 balls now. Couple of dot balls adding to the suspense

18.3

Sam Curran to Russell, no run, bangs it in short, the batter ducks under it and lets it go. There is some dew for sure as we saw Buttler with a little blue towel

18.2

Sam Curran to Shai Hope, 1 run, highish full toss, the batter drives but sans much timing. They get a single only as the man at deep cover cut it off

18.1

Sam Curran to Shai Hope, no run, starts with a fuller ball and has been pushed down to the man at cover. Got it off the cue-end of the bat

Sam Curran [1.0-0-11-0] is back into the attack

17.6

Rehan Ahmed to Shai Hope, 1 run, goes back and nudges the ball down on to the on-side for a single

17.5

Rehan Ahmed to Shai Hope, FOUR, that's vital. That is sweet. Short ball, outside off, Shai Hope cuts and gets it between short third and point. Was well placed by Shai Hope. 12 needed off 13 balls. Windies have had this chase in control but have lost those wickets which has allowed England to stay in contention. That four would have calmed down a lot of the nerves

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