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England hit record 267 to level T20 series with West Indies

Sports Desk | banglanews24.com
Update: 2023-12-20 13:27:42
England hit record 267 to level T20 series with West Indies [photo collected]

Phil Salt's second successive century helped England hit their highest T20 international total in a chaotic 75-run win over West Indies to level the series.

Salt's astonishing 119 - the highest score by an England men's batter in the format - came from just 57 balls and included 10 sixes as the tourists finished with 267-3.

Captain Jos Buttler smashed 55 from 29 balls and Liam Livingstone added an unbeaten 54 from 21 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

West Indies kept up with the imposing run-rate during their entertaining chasing effort, but regular wickets cost them, the hosts falling to 192 all out.

The hosts amassed 87 from the first six overs, but England held their nerve and fought back to break every dangerous partnership, with each bowler taking at least one wicket.

All-rounder Andre Russell gave the hosts late hope with a dynamic 24-ball half-century before he was the last batter to be dismissed in the 16th over by Reece Topley, who claimed 3-37.

England have come from 2-0 down to level the series at 2-2, with the decider taking place at the same venue on Thursday.

On the same day Salt went unsold in the mini-auction for next year's Indian Premier League, he subjected West Indies' weary bowlers to another brutal onslaught.

A depleted bowling line-up, with attack leader Alzarri Joseph resting for the final two matches of the series, had no answers to the opener's power as he launched anything full down the ground, was quick to pull short balls and scored freely against spin and pace on a flat pitch.

Salt added 117 in just 9.5 overs with Buttler, bettering the 115 they hit together in Saturday's third T20 for the fifth highest opening stand for England's men in this format.

Buttler's 26-ball half-century went somewhat under the radar compared Salt's brilliance but a second straight fifty for the captain provides England with a welcome boost after his disappointing World Cup showing.

Salt was not fazed when Buttler picked out long-on, putting on stands of 56 from 23 balls with Will Jacks and 73 from just 29 deliveries with Livingstone.

This batting performance, alongside their successful chase of 223 in the third T20, was so dominant that England's recent white-ball woes seem scarcely believable, with the confidence of Salt and Buttler oozing into each new batter who was able to strike with conviction from their first ball.

West Indies' bowlers, who lacked the consistency and pace of Joseph, were guilty of bowling too straight, with T20 debutant Matthew Forde conceding 54 from three wicketless overs.

Spinner Akeal Hosein's 1-36 was a rare bright spark, as he and Kyle Mayers - who strangely only bowled one over - were the only two to concede fewer than 10 runs per over.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1327 HRS, DEC 20, 2023 
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