West Indies came very close to taking a 2-0 T20I series lead over England in Barbados this January 23 but the final-over thriller went the tourists’ way, as they defended their total of 171/8 by just one run.
England looked like winning the game comprehensively at one stage during the second half. But an excellent lower-order stand between Romario Shepherd (44*) and Akeal Hosein (44*) infused life into the contest, resulting in a famous last-over tussle that will be remembered in times to come.
Needing to score 30 runs off the last six balls, it looked like a formality before England would come out winners. But then something breathtaking took place, as the young Akeal Hosein smashed pacer Saqid Mahmood to all parts of the Kensington Oval. He hit three sixes and two fours in the over, where Mahmood also gave two wides.
Hosein backed England down till the very last ball! Breathtaking display of heroics deserving of the #MastercardPricelessMoment. #WIvENG #IzWIVibes pic.twitter.com/kjxzCE7H7l
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) January 24, 2022
But in the end, a crucial dot-ball bowled off the second ball of the over, came back to hold Hosein’s horses as West Indies were found painfully short of the target despite their lower-order batter hitting the final delivery for a maximum.
Either side of the drama of the final over, however, the game was firmly in England’s grasp. They first made an above-par score on the board and reduced West Indies to just 98 for eight in the run-chase.
It wasn’t that there were any substantial knocks from England’s batting unit. But crucial efforts from Jason Roy (45), Moeen Ali (31), Tom Banton (25) and Chris Jordan (27) propelled them past the 170-mark.
Ali was also England’s hero with the ball, taking three for 24 off his four overs. He was rightfully handed the ‘Player of the Match’. Fellow spinner Adil Rashid (2/24) and pacer Reece Topley (1/18) also bowled superbly on the night for England.
Perhaps this is where West Indies fell short in the contest. Not entirely because of their collapse or because of that one dot-ball in the final over. But because they lacked an England-like collective effort with the ball. In that, only Sheldon Cottrell (1/23) and skipper Kieron Pollard (1/32) had respectable figures.
Brief scores
England 171/8 in 20 overs (Roy 45, Ali 31; Allen 2/50) beat West Indies 170/8 in 20 overs (Hosein 44*, Shephard 44*; Ali 3/24) by 1 run
