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England vs WI 5th T20I: Hope Helped WI in a Series Win Against England on a Tricky Pitch
Written By Jenny Doe
Reviewed By Jenny Doe

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England vs WI 5th T20I: Hope Helped WI in a Series Win Against England on a Tricky Pitch

In the last game of this white-ball series, Shai Hope, who led West Indies to victory in the opening game, again shone at the bat, helping the team win a challenging run chase in Trinidad. Because they had previously won the ODI series, West Indies secured a rare double by winning the T20I series 3-2. 

Phil Salt was always going to be the crucial wicket up top whenever the West Indies decided to bowl. Prior to this match, he had scored 40, 25, 109*, and 119 in the four previous encounters. And he caused more damage to the home team by putting up a few early boundaries. Salt persisted even after Jos Butter was lost early. After that, an arm ball from Akeal Hosein broke Will Jacks' stumps, but Salt skillfully finished the powerplay for the visitors with consecutive boundaries as England reached 50.

Despite giving up a six to Salt, Gudakesh Motie, who was then brought into the attack, immediately had a significant impact. To the joy of the West Indies, a ball that pitched to catch Salt off guard came in with the angle bent away sharply, rearranging his middle stump as the opener was removed. In his second over, Motie struck again, this time taking the crucial wicket of Harry Brook, which left England reeling at 70/4.

There was a pause, of course, until Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone each blasted a six to unshackle themselves. Not at all. After 14 overs, they were reasonably positioned at 109/4, and from that point on, a minimum of 160 was expected, if not more. But Akeal forced Moeen to misjudge one and was caught with a shorter length ball before Motie concluded his innings with a huge wicket of Livingstone. Chris Woakes was removed by an outstanding yorker from Andre Russell, and in the last over, Jason Holder took two wickets to end England's suffering. They were bowled out for 132 after reaching 109/4.

Johnson Woakes's problems were exacerbated by Charles, who dismissed two short balls for a boundary and a six, helping the hosts reach 20/0 in just two overs. But early in the chase, Reece Topley forced a top edge to see Brandon King's back. England removed Nicholas Pooran early, despite the fact that he hit his opening ball for a six. In the next over, Pooran dragged one onto his stumps. The home team made sure they didn't lose any more wickets by scoring just five runs in the final two overs of the powerplay.

After that, Charles hit a six off Rehan Ahmed to break clear, but the experienced leggie Adil Rashid dismissed him in the following over, causing the batter to leave in a subdued manner. With Hope acting as their fulcrum, West Indies did, however, gradually bounce back from that point. They believed they could catch up if they didn't lose any more wickets, even though they were only chasing 133 at the midway point and only had 62. Assuming the role of the aggressor, Sherfane Rutherford struck Moeen for a four before hitting Rashid for a six. Sam Curran hit another six, bringing the equation down to 39 off 36.

Not even close. Even though dew was helping them at this moment, the hosts nearly botched an easy pursuit. In his last over, Rashid gave Rutherford a googly that gave way to a tiny gap. After that, Reece Topley got rid of captain Rovman Powell, and just when things were getting a little complicated, Hope got a boundary off of Rehan to make it 12 off 13. However, Curran produced a fantastic last over in which he applied pressure, let up just two runs, and claimed a huge wicket of Russell to send the game to extra time. But with nine balls remaining, Holder scored three runs off the opening ball before Hope completed the victory with a six off the next bowl to snatch the series from England.