West Indies claim t20 series in style.

Hales return to form with 40 was not nearly enough to
give England the score they desperately needed. 

The West Indies won by five wickets with seven balls to spare, claiming the t20 series 2-0 with one game remaining, as the current world t20 holders obliterated England.

The hosts struck ten fours and eleven sixes and were on top of their run chase right from the start of their innings as they comfortably defeated England, who still have a lot to work on before the t20 world cup.

Jos Buttler led England’s innings with an attractive 67, but the visitors were not aggressive enough and were only able to post 152-7, a score which proved to be below par against a belligerent West Indies side.

England recovered from 26-3 to post a competitive score thanks to a fourth wicket stand worth 76 between Buttler and Alex Hales, but a rain delay unsettled the England middle order who struggled to find their feet after the break.

The hosts were initially concerned by the absence of inform spinner, Sunil Narine, but his replacement Krishmar Santokie, claimed 4-21, causing damage at both ends of the innings.

Michael Lumb (4) and Moeen Ali (5) were both trapped LBW by Santokie and stand-in captain, Eoin Morgan was unable to get the better of spinner, Samuel Badree, as he was also removed cheaply.

Fearful of another capitulation, opener Hales was able to steady the innings, alongside Buttler, who proved that he is capable of making an innings, as well as finishing them in style.

With both batsmen approaching half-centuries, England had recovered from their early collapse and appeared to be mounting a dangerous total, but their efforts were halted when Hales hauled out to the square leg boundary and was out for 40.

Rain started to fall shortly after this wicket fell and this untimely dismissal was followed by an uncomfortable delay, which proved to unsettle the flow of Buttler.

With just over 5 overs to face, England continued their innings, hoping to reach anywhere between 160-180, but the West Indies bowlers resumed with a renewed confidence and were able to contain runs, much to frustration of the England batsmen.

Buttler was able to pass his second t20 half-century for England in 33 deliveries, but the innings struggled to live up to the hopes of the away supporters and wickets fell in the arduous search for boundaries.

Santokie’s return proved to be useful to the hosts, claiming the wickets of Buttler and Ravi Bopara (14) in the same over, as England struggled to reach a par score.

Luke Wright (7*) and Tim Bresnan both struck late boundaries to give the visitors total a much-needed boost, but the latter was removed on the final ball of the innings as England set an average target of 153 to win.

The West Indies began in an aggressive style with both Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle taking charge against the England bowlers, reaching 58-1 at the end of their power play.

Smith struck 30 off just 16 balls and Gayle was back to his old self, effortlessly thrashing the ball over the fence as he raced to 36 with four sixes.

England were relieved to remove Smith but Gayle continued his assault and the required run rate continued to fall with every ball that passed.

The efforts of Bopara gave England hope, affording just ten runs from his four over, as he forced Gayle to chop-on to his own stumps.

Marlon Samuels found it difficult with pace taken off the ball and when his partner, Lendl Simmons (19), was out caught behind, the game became much more even as the hosts unexpectedly struggled to find boundary.

Further success for England came when Bresnan claimed two wickets in two balls, but if anything this exposed a much more dangerous opponent in Darren Sammy, who would finish the innings with conviction.

After losing three wickets for five runs, the hosts were suddenly on the back-foot but the experience of Sammy ensured that they would emerge victorious, with England’s death bowling, once again, proving ineffective.

Sammy smashed 30 runs from just nine deliveries as the West Indies crushed their opponents and gave a good account of what to expect from the defending Champions in Bangladesh for the t20 world cup.