West Indies vs. England
The West Indies now lead the five-match series 1-0 after leg-spinner Adil Rashid became the first player in the history of the England men’s team to take 100 wickets in the IT20. There will be games in Grenada on Thursday and Saturday, both beginning at 5:30 p.m. GMT.
In the first game of the series, Andre Russell and Rovman Powell led the West Indies to victory.
West Indies vs. England In the opening T20 match of the series in Bridgetown, Andre Russell took three wickets and shared an unbeaten partnership with captain Rovman Powell to help the West Indies defeat England by four wickets.
After losing the toss and being sent to bat first, Phil Salt (40) gave England a great start with a 77-run partnership with Jos Buttler (39), but the West Indies struck back, bowling the visitors out for 171 in 19.3 overs.
After a brief weather delay, Rehan Ahmed (3-39) took two wickets in a row to leave the West Indies struggling at 123-6 in reply. Adil Rashid (2-14) also impressed, becoming the first England men’s player to reach 100 T20I wickets on his 100th T20I appearance.
The wickets of Kyle Mayers (35) and Shimron Hetmyer (1) were taken by Adil Rashid (center).
The West Indies then took the lead with Powell and Russell (29), who put together an unbeaten 49-run seventh-wicket stand from just 21 balls. With 11 balls remaining, they achieved their victory target and took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
West Indies vs. England: West Indies win first game of the series
England failed to sustain their quick start, which saw them 112-2 halfway through their innings, as Salt hit six boundaries and one six during his outing but was caught at deep midwicket by a brilliant juggling catch from Shimron Hetmyer, who also had captain Buttler caught at cow corner.
Alzarri Joseph (3-54) removed Will Jacks (17) after he hit two sixes in his fast-paced innings. Joseph gave up 25 runs in his first over, the most expensive of his career, but he was able to finish with more respectable totals after mopping up the tail.
Following a six-off Alzarri Joseph, England’s Will Jacks, right, celebrates with captain Jos Buttler.
The crowd at Kensington Oval cheered when Joseph made a fantastic leaping catch at long off, but Romario Shepherd (2-22) ended Ben Duckett’s (14) cameo in the 14th over with a slower ball that was ramped to third. He struck again in the 18th over to dismiss Sam Curran (13).
Liam Livingstone (27), playing in his first international since the 2021 T20 World Cup, chopped an off-cutter from Russell (3-19) on to his stumps after Brook (one) edged behind to Pooran. Four balls later, Russell struck again, this time getting Ahmed (one) caught at long-off by Powell.
Andre Russell returned to playing cricket internationally; he was named player of the match.
West Indies vs. England: Following a strong finish,
Joseph removed Rashid (0) from the game in the final over. Tymal Mills (0) was then caught behind the next ball, leaving England all out for 171.
After a solid 32-run partnership between Brandon King (22) and Kyle Mayers (35), the latter struck Duckett with a short ball, which resulted in an incredible leaping catch, as the West Indies amassed 78 runs in the first six overs.
Just before a 40-minute rain delay, Rashid claimed his historic wicket in the next over when he had Hetmyer (one) caught at mid-wicket by Duckett. Ahmed (3-39) had Nicholas Pooran (13) out caught and bowled to turn the tide of the match back towards England.
The hosts still needed 49 after Ahmed dismissed Shai Hope (36), caught at long-on, and used the slip that Butter had offered him to dismiss Shepherd (0) for a golden duck. However, the West Indies added 32 runs in two overs thanks to costly overs from Livingstone and Mills, which turned the tide back in their favor.
Russell took Rashid for six and then four to reduce the number of runs needed to four. He then carved Sam Curran (0–23) to the backward point boundary to finish the series with a winning start.