England record first series win against West Indies since 2019 in tense finish

Late hitting from Liam Livingstone carried England to a series victory in the Caribbean despite early batting wobbles

ST LUCIA:

England clinched a Twenty20 series win over the West Indies with a tense final-over victory in the third match in St Lucia on Thursday, securing the series with two games remaining.

Following a rain delay, England initially looked set for a straightforward win after reducing the West Indies to 37 for five, as the home team’s top order faltered again.

However, West Indies captain Rovman Powell’s half-century lifted the hosts to a defendable 145 for eight from their 20 overs, leaving England a challenging chase.

While England lost wickets regularly, late big-hitting by Liam Livingstone saw them secure their first white-ball series win in the Caribbean since 2019, with two more T20s still scheduled at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground this weekend.

Captain Jos Buttler praised his side’s efforts, noting the collective performance and strong starts in the powerplays across the series. He also highlighted England’s depth, saying competition for places was fierce despite the absence of key players due to Test duties.

England’s victory follows disappointing performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and T20 edition five months ago in the United States and Caribbean. After losing the ODI series on this tour, a young England squad missing several stars managed to reverse fortunes in the rainy St Lucian conditions.

When play resumed after a 50-minute delay, Powell’s 73-run stand with Romario Shepherd for the sixth wicket gave West Indies a fighting chance. However, Jamie Overton’s two wickets in three balls and Saqib Mahmood’s impressive three for 17 helped England set up a manageable chase.

Phil Salt, who scored a century in the first T20, fell for just four, while Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell also managed only four runs each, giving England a shaky start. Sam Curran, however, top-scored with 41 and steadied England’s innings, while Livingstone survived two dropped catches on his way to 39, edging England to victory.

Reflecting on the loss, West Indies captain Powell expressed frustration over his side’s repeated early wicket losses. He called for smarter play, acknowledging that the middle overs become difficult after a poor powerplay. Despite the challenges, Powell said the team felt they could defend their score after his and Shepherd’s recovery partnership.