Bridgetown (Barbados). West Indies all-rounder Rovman Powell’s maiden century helped West Indies beat England by 20 runs in the third T20I to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Powell smashed 107 off just 53 balls while senior batsman Nicholas Pooran struck a quicker 70 off 43 balls as West Indies posted a mammoth total of 224 for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
In reply, wicketkeepers Tom Banton (73) and Phil Salt (57) scored half-centuries but England were bowled out for 204 for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs and lost the match by 20 runs.
Romario Shepherd was West Indies’ best bowler as he picked up three wickets for 59 runs in his four overs. Captain Kieron Pollard took two wickets for 31 runs.
England won the toss and elected to bowl and had an early breakthrough when opener Brandon King (10) was bowled by pacer George Garten with a score of 11 runs in the second over. Shai Hope was also dismissed early, Banton scored four runs off Liam Livingstone.
But Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell took the West Indies’ innings forward and quickly put on 122 runs for the third wicket to take them to a safe place.
West Indies scored 54 for two in the powerplay as Pooran reached his fifty in 34 balls and Powell scored his fifty in 31 balls.
Powell completed his century in 51 balls as West Indies scored 200 runs in the 19th over.
In reply, Jason Roy and Tom Banton gave England a good start.
Banton scored 73 runs in 39 balls but England kept losing wickets at the other end. Although Phil Salt’s innings of 57 runs in 24 balls raised their hopes and eventually took them close to West Indies’ total, but in the end the team lost by 20 runs.
Brief Scores:
West Indies: 224/5 (Rovman Powell 107, Nicholas Pooran 70; Reece Topley 1/30).
England: 204/9 (Tom Banton 73, Phil Salt 57; Romario Shepherd 3/59, Kieron Pollard 2/31). (IANS)
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