Gros Islet, St. Lucia – Torrential rain extinguished the West Indies’ hopes of ending the T20I series on a high note as the fifth and final match against England was abandoned after just five overs on Sunday.
The no-result at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground handed England a 3-1 series victory, capping a riveting battle between the sides.
The West Indies, brimming with confidence after a record-breaking win in the fourth match, began the fifth clash with flair. Evin Lewis was at his aggressive best, smashing an unbeaten 29 off 16 balls, supported by Shai Hope’s composed 14, as the hosts stormed to 44-0 in just five overs.
However, the skies opened in a relentless downpour, leaving the outfield waterlogged and forcing umpires to abandon the game shortly after 6:15 p.m. The disappointment was palpable as the soaked St. Lucian crowd hoped to see their team build on the heroics of Saturday’s epic chase.
Fourth T20I: A night of records
In the penultimate match, the West Indies delivered an awe-inspiring performance to chase down England’s daunting 218-5, setting a record as the highest successful chase at the venue. Led by Player of the Match Shai Hope and Evin Lewis, the home side powered to 221-5 in 19 overs, thrilling fans with a ferocious 136-run opening stand.
After a cautious start, the duo erupted, hammering boundaries with abandon. Lewis launched pacer John Turner for six off his first delivery, while Hope followed with a flurry of fours and sixes, catapulting the West Indies to 83 without loss by the sixth over. Hope’s dazzling 54 off 24 balls included four sixes, while Lewis’ blistering 68 off 31 balls featured seven towering sixes and four boundaries.
The euphoria was tempered when the Windies lost three wickets in as many balls, turning a seemingly assured victory into a nerve-wracking contest. Lewis fell to Rehan Ahmed’s sharp bowling, Hope was run out in a mix-up with Nicholas Pooran, and Ahmed’s googly bowled Pooran to leave the hosts at 136-3 in the 10th over.
Captain Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer stabilized the innings with a 36-run partnership, but the tension rose again when Powell was trapped lbw by Turner. Ultimately, Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase displayed nerves of steel, with Rutherford sealing the victory in emphatic fashion by smashing Dan Mousley for consecutive sixes.
England’s fighting total
Earlier, England’s top order shone as Phil Salt (55 off 35) and Will Jacks (25) set the stage with a 54-run partnership in just five overs. Skipper Jos Buttler contributed a steady 38, while Jacob Bethell unleashed a brutal 62 not out off 32 balls, propelling England to a formidable 218-5. Bethell and Sam Curran amassed 63 runs in the final five overs, leaving the Windies with a steep target.
Despite their strong batting performances, England struggled to contain the Windies’ explosive line-up in the fourth match, highlighting the fragility of their bowling attack under pressure.
England’s series win adds to their recent achievements, but the West Indies can take solace in their 2-1 victory in the preceding ODI series. Notably, all seven completed matches in the two series were won by the team chasing, underscoring the significance of the toss in these high-stakes encounters.
As both teams reflect on this pulsating series, the West Indies’ resurgence in the fourth T20I and England’s commanding performances will serve as a prelude to their next international battles.
