In a gripping clash at the fourth T20I between England and West Indies, England came charging back into contention, determined to level the series after the West Indies had taken a 2-1 lead. The match unfolded at Tarouba amid high stakes and a pivotal toss, which saw West Indies winning and opting to bowl first, a decision that raised eyebrows considering the batter-friendly pitch.
Philip Salt and Jos Buttler led England’s charge right from the start, displaying a fearless approach and consistently finding the boundaries. While the skipper fell unexpectedly on 55 coming off in just 29 deliveries, Salt continued his splendid form, propelled by the motivation of being unsold in the IPL auction. His relentless onslaught left the West Indies bowlers perplexed as he notched up yet another century.
Supporting Salt‘s brilliance was Will Jacks, who added impetus to England’s innings with a quick cameo. Salt’s sensational109 off 56 balls, combined with Liam Livingstone’s fiery 54 off 21 balls, propelled England to a commanding total of 267 – setting a new high for T20Is at Tarouba and the second-highest total in matches involving full ICC members.
West Indies batters fell like a pack of cards
In response, West Indies lost their first wicket on the first ball in the form of Brandon King. West Indies initiated their innings aggressively, but the tactic backfired as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Despite promising starts from Nicholas Pooran, Kyle Mayers, Sherfane Rutherford, and Shai Hope, none capitalized on their opportunities. Andre Russell’s rapid 51 off 25 deliveries towards the end provided a glimmer of hope, but it was a little too late.
England’s bowling unit, spearheaded by Reece Topley and Adil Rashid, made crucial breakthroughs, disrupting the West Indies chase. Topley’s three-wicket haul, supported by Sam Curran and Rehan Ahmed’s two wickets each, compounded West Indies’ struggle. Buttler’s astute management of bowlers ensured that the 268-run target seemed insurmountable for the hosts, who eventually fell short by 75 runs, losing all wickets with nearly five overs remaining unused. England’s comprehensive victory not only leveled the series but also underscored their dominance in a high-scoring encounter.
Here’s how ‘X’ users reacted to England winning 4th T20I against West Indies:
Really Surprised Phil Salt wasn’t picked up in the auction earlier today. Even before this second consecutive T20i century.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) December 19, 2023
How has Phil Salt not been picked up in the auction…. 🤯
Unbelievable
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) December 19, 2023
2 Consecutive T20 100 by Phil Salt!
What a Great Performance by Phil Salt!!#ENGvsWI— Abhimanyu (@abhimanyusrt) December 20, 2023