England claims one-run victory over West Indies in second T20I

England overcame hosts’ lower-order batsmen Romario Shepherd and Akeal Hosein to claim victory by one run over in the second T20I at Bridgetown on Sunday.

The West Indies appeared down and out when they needed 61 runs from the final three overs to reach a target of 172, with only two wickets standing.

But from 111 for eight, Shepherd and Hosein, who both made 44 not out in an unbroken stand of 72, almost denied England the win that levelled the five-match series at 1-1.

Chris Jordan and Saqib Mahmood were repeatedly hit for boundaries, although the recalled Reece Topley conceded just eight runs in the 19th over.

West Indies, who had slumped to 65 for seven, needed 30 to win off the last over, bowled by Mahmood.

The paceman started the over with a wide and was lucky not to be called again with his next delivery.

‘Games you want to win’

England skipper Eoin Morgan was satisfied with the performance of the team.

“I was delighted and even with the last quarter, with a relatively inexperienced international side, those are the games you want to play in,” he said.

But Pollard lauded his team for their efforts while chasing.

“I can see the confidence with the guys in the changing room,” he said. “We will have days like this but my thing is the fight that the guys continue to show.”

West Indies chased the target of 104 in the first T20I on Saturday, winning by nine wickets.

But it was a different story when the teams returned to the Kensington Oval a day later, with England making 171 for eight featuring opener Jason Roy’s 45.

England off-spinner Moeen Ali then took format-best figures of three for 24 after leg-spinner Adil Rashid removed both Pollard and Darren Bravo.

Moeen was named player of the match after also making 31 with the bat, with Barbados-born Jordan’s 27 helping England to a competitive total.

Recalled left-arm quick Reece Topley had reduced the West Indies to six for two by having Brandon King, who made an unbeaten fifty on Saturday, lbw for a duck and running out fellow opener Shai Hope.

Brief scores

England 171-8, 20 overs (Jason Roy 45; Jason Holder 2-25, Fabian Allen 2-50)

West Indies 170-8, 20 overs (Romario Shepherd 44 no, Akeal Hosein 44 no; Moeen Ali 3-24, Adil Rashid 2-24)

Result: England won by one run

Series: Five match series level at 1-1