England sweep West Indies in T20Is

Ben Duckett smashed 84 from just 46 balls in third T20I

SOUTHAMPTON:

Ben Duckett starred with a blistering 84 from just 46 balls as England wrapped up a T20 series sweep of the West Indies with a 37-run victory on Tuesday.

England opener Duckett blasted 10 fours and two sixes as he set a frenetic pace in the hosts' score of 248-3 from 20 overs in Southampton.

Rovman Powell's unbeaten 79 was a defiant response from the West Indies, but they still fell short, finishing on 211-8 as England white-ball captain Harry Brook made it six successive victories to start his reign.

"It was a great pitch to bat on. The ball didn't do a great deal and me and Jamie Smith looked to put pressure straight from the start. The way he took down the seamers made my life easier," Duckett said after being voted player of the match.

"I try and keep it pretty simple as people know. You try to play a bit more expansive shots in T20 cricket but I try to stick to my strength throughout."

Having crushed the West Indies 3-0 in the one-day international series, this was another impressive display of England's batting power.

Smith, who partnered Duckett at the top of the England batting order, smashed 60 in 26 balls, with four boundaries and five sixes.

The pair put on 120 for the first wicket in 8.5 overs before Brook hit 35 not out and Jacob Bethell produced an electric 36 not out from only 16 balls.

Bethell hit three huge sixes in succession off Gudakesh Motie as the hosts equalled their record T20 score in England.

Pace bowler Luke Wood, who finished with 3-31 from his four overs, and spinner Liam Dawson dismissed West Indies openers Evin Lewis and Johnson Charles for nine each to leave the tourists in trouble.

West Indies skipper Shai Hope went down fighting with 45 before being bounced out by Brydon Carse.

Powell crushed nine fours and four sixes in his 45-ball masterclass, but England had already done more than enough to seal the win.

Earlier, Victory in second T20I meant Brook has won all five games since succeeding Buttler as permanent white-ball captain and now has the chance to match the preceding 3-0 one-day international series whitewash of the West Indies in Tuesday's T20 finale in Southampton.

"We chased the score beautifully," Brook told Sky Sports.

"It gives us great confidence having Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton and Will Jacks at five, six and seven. The top order can go all out blazing."

"I thought we were a few runs short," said West Indies captain Shai Hope, who top-scored with 49 in his side's 196-6.

"We have to try and bounce back, win the (final) game and finish the tour strong."

The recalled Luke Wood gave England the ideal start when his swinging yorker had Evin Lewis lbw with the first ball of the match, but Hope and Johnson Charles (47) repaired some of the early damage in a stand of 90.

Rovman Powell added late impetus with 34 off 15 balls and former captain Jason Holder struck 29 off nine.

Adil Rashid bowled the penultimate over as England again only selected two seamers, but the veteran leg-spinner conceded 31 runs and finished with figures of 1-59 — his most-expensive T20 return.

But Brook, having praised Wood for "setting the tone", said: "The middle period with the spinners, the game didn't get away from us.

"To have the couple of overs there let us get away with the big over at the end."