too much room outside off again, and crashed magnificently over long-off! It's the most outstanding failure imaginable! West Indies have lost by one run! And they had no right to get within fifty runs!
West Indies vs England, 2nd T20I at Bridgetown, WI v ENG, Jan 23 2022 - Match Result
Akeal Hosein and Shepherd's 72-run partnership is WI's highest for the 9th wicket in T20Is, breaking the record of 66 between Dwayne Bravo and Jerome Taylor
7.50pm So, that's your lot. England have won a cricket match! But even in victory, they somehow managed to feel a bit defeated... but it's a new younger team, and an important rite of passage for Saqib Mahmood in particular. But from Alan, Thilak, Matt and the team, thanks and goodnight. See you on Wednesday!
7.41pm Time for some presentations... here's Moeen Ali, the Player of the Match: "Jas was going really well, I was quite fortunate, hung in there, he stepped it up beautifully. We thought we got a good score in the end, but they played well. CJ at the end played a great knock. A lot more clear now without playing red-ball, but you never quite win the game with the way they played. Me and Rash, we've played together quite a bit, and he makes it easier for me when the guys come after me."
Kieron Pollard: "We lost wickets in clusters but the way we fought at the back end, they can hit the ball a long way, and the confidence that Akeal has... and Shepherd wants to put up his hand and take responsibility. [Spin] has been a thorn for us, we will overcome it, we are working diligently but the biggest disappointment was our fielding display. But confidence is high and it augurs well for the next three games."
Eoin Morgan: "I'm delighted, even with the last quarter of the game, these are the games we want to play in, tight games to work on death hitting and death bowling. But the majority of the day we adapted well, with more intent and clarity. We need to establish the rhythm of the game, not necessarily fluent partnerships ... dot, dot, dot, wicket, boundary. But we countered what West Indies had to offer. Every team in the world is trying to get better at death bowling. Conditions got better and the ball skidded on, but we need to find better execution, we'd like it to be up there with the best in the world. The majority of our plans was yorkers, to defend the wide side... and we missed."
7.34pm Good grief. England square the series, but that's not actually the talking point anymore! Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd have confirmed that West Indies' next generation is primed for action. This could and should have been a rout to rival the opening fixture, but with the boot on the other foot. Instead it's one of the most confusing contests I've ever witnessed!
James L: "If that second wide had been called at 19.1…"
Will: "Good thing Topley bowled as well as he did in the 19th! " So true, that was where the match was made safe, even in the face of that late charge. What a stunning finale!
another massacred slam over long-on! Mahmood is looking a touch like Stuart Broad at Durban right now... wide-eyed and a little bit powerless to resist a rampant batter!
No more wides... or things get tasty!
flogged over midwicket once more! This is phenomenal hitting, predicting the line and length, and rifling it flat over Roy's head on the edge of the rope!
another wide... this is turning into a bit of a morale boost for West Indies
hoisted handsomely down the ground! Full again, in the arc, launched over long-on to bring up a ballsy fifty stand
bashed hard into the gap at wide long-on! Full length outside off, but tighter to the left-hander this time, and Hosein flings gleefully through the line
attacking the wide line, and Hosein is a bit miffed that that wasn't called as well. With some reason...
a very wide wide, outside the off stump.
pumped out through point, one hand comes off the bat as Shepherd connects well enough to beat the tumbling sweeper. That was a fine over, and it's left Windies needing miracles
full again, attacking the left-hander's leg stump, Hosein gives himself room, but Topley follows him. Slapped to deep point. Clever bowling
Marcus: "Jordan needs to bowl yorkers. If you bow widel half trackers at his pace you go to the boundary. Aim at their toes."
good delivery, length ball at pace, and nipping past the edge. Test-match vibes!
slower ball, back-of-the-hander, full length again, winds into another full-blooded pull as the ball plops at midwicket. Cunning bowling
hacked with energy up and over the off side, but can't get enough bat on it, plugs in the deep
full and wide, that's excellent bowling, pushed across the right-hander, finding some swing on the angle to elude a booming drive
Noor: "I am starting to get England vs New Zealand World T20 semi final vibes now." Hmmm
full and pressed into the covers, to end a lively and almost contest-reviving over...
good finish ... or not! That looked like a good delivery, wide of off stump, but adjacent to the blue guide line, umpire Wilson decides it's the wrong side of it!
fires in the yorker, and leathered through point! Topley slides round the rope, and does well to palm it in. Unexpectedly valuable runs saved!
back of a length, and taken to the beach! Shepherd swings up into another violent pull, cramped on the body but his fast hands do the needful!
pumped into the stands once more! Into the pitch, skidding into a brutal thwack across the line! Roy can't get close at deep midwicket!
pace off on the wider line, and dropped by the backpedalling Morgan! Leaping on the edge of the ring, at extra cover. It was tough but not that tough... and he's annoyed with himself
1W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados | |
Toss | West Indies, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2021/22 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | 5-match series level 1-1 |
Match number | T20I no. 1454 |
Match days | 23 January 2022 - daynight (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |
Over 20 • WI 170/8
England won by 1 run