In a chase of 197 for the win on a flat deck, England made a rousing start and maximised the powerplay but West Indies made a stunning comeback post the powerplay. Philip Salt went all guns blazing and scored 30 off 14 balls while the others looked good as Salt fell to Shepherd. But it was after powerplay that Gudakesh Motie stepped in and picked up 2 wickets to peg England back leaving the match in balance at the completion of 10 overs. Let’s see how chase pans out from here.
England gets off to a racing start in powerplay thanks to Philip Salt
Chasing 197 for the win, Philip Salt and Jos Buttler opened the innings for England while Akeal Hosein had ball in hand for West Indies. Salt began with a bang as the first ball was lofted over mid-off for a boundary. Jason Holder came onto the attack next and he was welcomed into the attack with a maximum over deep midwicket. Salt hit a boundary through the off-side as it was cut hard to the deep point fence.
Salt got another boundary away as he got the outside edge through the backward point region for a boundary. Salt went big again as he muscled it over deep midwicket for the maximum. Salt again hit a boundary as he drilled it past mid-off for a boundary. 24 runs came off the over. Hosein continued as Buttler reverse swept it away over backward point for a boundary.
Romario Shepherd came into the attack and he removed Philip Salt for 30 off 14 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes to his name. He bowled a back of a length delivery slower one outside the off-stump which was an off-cutter. Salt shimmied down the ground and looked to flat bat it over mid-off and got a top edge that was high in the air. Sherfane Rutherford took the catch easily inside the circle. Jacob Bethell came to bat next and got off the mark as well. Bethell punched off the back foot through cover point for a boundary.
Hosein continued as Bethell rocked onto the back foot staying leg side and punched it between cover and point for a boundary. Bethell went again as he got an outside edge that ran away to the deep third man fence. Bethell got down on one knee and swept it to the right of backward square leg for a boundary. Shamar Joseph came into the attack to bowl the final over of powerplay. Buttler ended the powerplay by threading the gap between cover and point for a boundary to end the powerplay.
England were 67/1 in 6 overs at the end of the powerplay with Buttler unbeaten on 15 off 11 balls while Bethell was with him unbeaten on 20 off 11 balls. Drinks were taken on the field at this stage.
West Indies roar back with triple strike thanks to Gudakesh Motie to leave game in balance at 10 overs
Roston Chase came into the attack post the powerplay and Buttler went big as he went deep and swivelled to pull it away to deep backward square leg for the maximum. Chase hit back and got rid of Butrler for 21 off 14 balls with 2 fours and one six to his name. Chase bowled from around the wicket a length ball on middle and leg stump and went on straight with the arm. Buttler hung back and looked to muscle it over long-on. He didn’t get the timing right and Powell moved to his right from long-on and took the catch.
Tom Banton came into the crease and got off the mark as well. Gudakesh Motie came into the attack next. Bethell punished the full toss by walloping it straight down the ground for the maximum. Motie then removed Banton for 2 off 4 balls. Hurled it fuller on the middle stump from around the wicket. Banton pressed forward and drove it uppishly only to find King at extra cover who took the catch. Captain Harry Brook came to the crease next.
Chase continued as Brook completed 4000 runs in T20 cricket. Motie continued and he knocked over Bethell for 33 off 23 balls with 4 fours and one six to his name. Motie bowled a length ball hurled in flat with a scrambled seam. Bethell was expecting it to turn and hung back as the ball hurried on by the looks of it as the ball went through the gap between his body and hit the stumps. Sam Curran came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
England reached 93/4 in 10 overs at the halfway stage of the chase with Brook unbeaten on 3 off 3 balls and Curran unbeaten on 2 off 2 balls.
What Lies Ahead
West Indies courtesy of Gudakesh Motie’s double strike hit back post the powerplay and got three wickets to keep England at 93/4 after the Three Lions were 67/1 in 6 overs after powerplay. West Indies did well in the middle phase after powerplay and now the game is back in balance. Partnerships will be important. This game can go either way. Let’s see how things shape up from here.
Also Read: ICC T20 WC 2026: Sherfane Rutherford’s Breath-Taking 76 Powers West Indies To 196/6