Ahmed's all-round masterclass powers England Lions to 3-0 whitewash
Key Points(5)
- Rehan Ahmed delivered a devastating all-round performance to headline England Lions' emphatic 96-run victory over West Indies A in the third and final T20 International at Conaree Sports Club on Wednesday, completing a comprehensive 3-0 series sweep.
- Ahmed came within striking distance of a century, hammering 92 from just 46 balls to propel the visitors to an imposing 219 for seven before returning to claim two wickets as West Indies A were bundled out for 123 in the 17th over.
- It was a fitting conclusion to a series in which England Lions consistently held the upper hand, leaving the home side with no answer to their superior batting firepower and disciplined bowling.
- Ahmed and Rew turn early setbacks into batting feast England Lions did not have everything their own way at the start after being sent in to bat, with West Indies A making early inroads into the visitors' lineup.
- However, Ahmed completely changed the momentum after arriving at No.
Rehan Ahmed delivered a devastating all-round performance to headline England Lions' emphatic 96-run victory over West Indies A in the third and final T20 International at Conaree Sports Club on Wednesday, completing a comprehensive 3-0 series sweep.
Ahmed came within striking distance of a century, hammering 92 from just 46 balls to propel the visitors to an imposing 219 for seven before returning to claim two wickets as West Indies A were bundled out for 123 in the 17th over.
It was a fitting conclusion to a series in which England Lions consistently held the upper hand, leaving the home side with no answer to their superior batting firepower and disciplined bowling.
Ahmed and Rew turn early setbacks into batting feast
England Lions did not have everything their own way at the start after being sent in to bat, with West Indies A making early inroads into the visitors' lineup.
However, Ahmed completely changed the momentum after arriving at No. 3, unleashing an extraordinary assault that put the home bowlers under sustained pressure.
The 92-run blitz included five fours and eight sixes, with Ahmed finding the ideal partner in James Rew as the pair dismantled the West Indies A attack.
Their third-wicket partnership yielded 112 runs and transformed what had been a competitive opening into a commanding position for the visitors. Rew played an equally important supporting role, striking a fluent 57 from 37 deliveries to ensure the Lions maintained their aggressive approach.
Despite claiming two wickets apiece, Shadrack Descarte, Keon Gaston and Joshua James were unable to contain the scoring once the partnership gathered momentum.
Zishan Motara endured a particularly difficult outing, conceding 52 runs from his three overs as England Lions raced to 219 for seven.
Finch strikes early to extinguish West Indies hopes
Faced with a daunting target of 220, West Indies A needed an exceptional start to remain competitive. Instead, Adam Finch delivered an immediate setback that effectively ended their hopes of a successful chase.
Finch removed Zachary Carter for 12 before dismissing captain Alick Athanaze for just three, leaving the hosts struggling to recover from the opening exchanges.
The innings failed to develop any meaningful rhythm, although Karima Gore briefly threatened to provide some resistance.
Gore struck 37 from 24 balls, but his effort proved insufficient to revive the chase as England Lions tightened their grip through an impressive spin performance.
Ahmed completes memorable double as Lions seal whitewash
Calvin Harrison was particularly effective, using his leg-spin to dismantle the middle order and finish with outstanding figures of three for 26 from four overs.
Ahmed was equally influential with the ball, claiming two wickets for just 16 runs to complete a superb individual performance and underline his value as an all-rounder.
Liam Patterson-White added two late wickets as West Indies A's resistance collapsed, with the home side managing only 123 before being dismissed in the 17th over.
Ahmed's contribution with both bat and ball earned him the man-of-the-match award, capping a performance that encapsulated England Lions' superiority throughout the series.
The 96-run triumph not only secured a clean sweep but also reinforced the visitors' dominance in the three-match contest, leaving West Indies A with plenty to reconsider after another disappointing outing.
