West Indies won the five-match series 3-2 thanks to a career-best five-for-27 from Jason Holder in 2.5 overs in the decider.
On Sunday, the West Indies beat England by 17 runs in the fifth and final Twenty20 international at the Kensington Oval, with local hero Jason Holder taking four wickets in a row in the final over. England’s momentum had already been halted by Akeal Hosein’s format-best four for 30. The left-arm spinner had a hand in James Vince’s 55-run top-score in the innings. All-rounder Holder began bowling the final over of the match at his Barbados home stadium with England still needing 20 runs to complete a target of 180. (Full t20I scorecard between the West Indies and England)
With his second and third balls, the towering paceman had Chris Jordan and Sam Billings caught at deep midwicket by substitute fielder Hayden Walsh Jr. despite the no-ball start to the over.
Holder then bowled Adil Rashid for a golden duck before dismissing Saqib Mahmood for a golden duck of his own.
Only Lasith Malinga, Rashid Khan, and Curtis Campher have ever taken four wickets in four balls in a T20 international match for Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, or Ireland.
With stand-in skipper Moeen Ali already out, Holder completed with a career-best 5-27 in 2.5 overs.
It is something I’m very proud of because I don’t bowl no-balls. I’m happy with the way I came back, bowled a dot ball next up, and then they had to come hard so I got the four wickets,” said Holder.
A total of 15 wickets were taken by the former West Indies captain in the five games played at Kensington Oval.
‘I’m amped up for the moment, I enjoy playing at Kensington Oval,’ he continued. “There’s no better place to play cricket in the world than here.”
This is referred to as “Holder’s town.”
Before Billings was removed for 41 off 28 balls, England’s tourists were bowled out for 162 in just 19.5 overs.
Kieren Pollard led the late run-streak for the West Indies, with a score of 41 not out in the final overs of the game.
After being trounced by 34 runs in the fourth T20 on Saturday, West Indies’ bowlers finished the job, giving them a much-needed victory after a series loss to Ireland at home earlier this month.
In the final four overs, “we capitalized with the bat,” said Pollard, who shared an unbroken 74-run partnership with Rovman Powell, who hit a century in the middle of the week (35 not out).
This is Jason Holder’s hometown, but it was a collaborative effort from us all.
Despite missing captain Eoin Morgan due to injury, Moeen Ali led an England side without the services of regular T20 players Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, who was rested after their respective Ashes tours.
However, Moeen was unimpressed and refused to accept any explanations.
“They were smarter than us today with bat and ball,” he said of the West Indies. “I think they were the better team.”
The following is a list of some of the most
Twenty overs later, the West Indies were 179-4. (Kieron Pollard 41 no, Rovman Powell 35 no; Adil Rashid 2-17, Liam Livingstone 2-17)
England scored a total of 162 runs in the final 19.5 overs (James Vince 55, Sam Billings 41; Jason Holder 5-27, Akeal Hosein 4-30)
