WI vs ENG: Salt shines as England defeats the hosts to keep series hopes alive

• England won the 3rd T20I against the West Indies by 7 wickets.
• Phil Salt’s century and Harry Brook’s late blitz led England’s chase of 223.
• The West Indies set a massive 222-6 thanks to Nicholas Pooran’s 82.

Last Saturday in Grenada, England defeated the West Indies by seven wickets to keep their Twenty20 international series alive, led by Phil Salt’s outstanding century.

With 109 not out, Salt spearheaded an improbable English recovery, while middle-order batsman Harry Brook also proved to be a hero with an undefeated 31. With one ball remaining, England completed their innings with 226-3, surpassing the enormous total of 222-6 set by the West Indies.

With six off West Indies bowler Andre Russell over third man, the 24-year-old Yorkshireman secured an amazing victory. Brook’s spectacular late-inning performance saw him score 24 off the final over.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀! 🏏

Just watch this final over… Harry Brook take a bow! 👏#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/raErDRlvTZ

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— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 16, 2023

With two games left in the best-of-five series, the West Indies leads 2-1 thanks to the victory, which leaves the series evenly balanced.

Brook’s undefeated 31 came off just seven balls and had four sixes, while Salt’s century from 56 balls featured nine sixes and four fours.

England, needing to score 223 runs to win, got off to a quick start in their run chase, helped by 51 from captain Jos Buttler.

Buttler’s removal and a tight West Indies bowling spell halted England’s momentum, and the hosts appeared to be headed for victory as the needed run rate surged.

However, England miraculously altered the tide of the match when Liam Livingstone hit 30 off just 18 balls, and Brook’s outstanding late-inning effort saw the visitors win.

“It feels like I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment in an England shirt,” Salt commented on his century. “It’s special to achieve it today when the series was on the line. Brooky came in and played an outstanding inning at the end.”

After a poor start for the home team, Nicholas Pooran blasted 82 from 45 balls, seemingly setting up the West Indies to win the series.

Before Pooran’s outstanding knock, England was trailing 8-2 after openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers were removed early.

Sherfane Rutherford scored 29, Shai Hope scored 26, and Rovman Powell added 39. His knock was the high point of a solid middle-order effort.

The hosts outclassed England in their bowling assault, with an amazing power-hitting display that yielded 16 sixes against just 14 boundaries.

Reece Topley and Gus Atkinson replaced Rehan Ahmed and Chris Woakes in the England squad that lost the second Twenty20 match by a run on Thursday.

But it was difficult for Atkinson and Topley to have any effect with the ball. Topley removed Mayers for a duck with an early wicket, but at an eight-run per over rate, he gave up 32 runs in his four overs. Atkinson, meanwhile, let up 33 runs in just two overs.

Both teams will lock horns in the fourth match in Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday.

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