The 3rd match of this Rivalry T20I series was held at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
In an electrifying match between England and West Indies, England took full advantage of another poor batting performance by the opponent team to claim a tense three-wicket victory in the third T20 International and claimed a 3-0 lead in the ongoing best-of-five series.
The 3rd match of this Rivalry T20I series was held at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
Only three West Indies batsmen made it into double digits after they lost the toss and were made to bat in the beginning for the third consecutive time, and they could only muster 145 for eight from their 20 overs.
Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone then played their significant knocks, and the England team edged to 149 for seven in 19.2 overs to capture the series with just two matches to play.
It was reported that Curran top scored with 41 while skipper Livingstone scored 39, and opener Will Jacks chipped in with 32 runs.
Meanwhile, Akeal Hosein was the best bowler for West Indies as he took 4 for 22 from his four overs, Gudakesh Motie 1 for 27, Alzarri Joseph 21 not out and Romario Shepherd 30.
The victory was set up by another outstanding display of fast bowling by the opening pair of England of Jofra Archer, 1 for 25, and Player-of-the-Match Saqib Mahmood, took 3 for 17, putting the home side at the backfoot from the get-go while Jamie Overton bagged three for 20.
The two teams are now set to face each other in the fourth and fifth T20I on Saturday and Sunday at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia from 4 pm onwards.
Notably, left-arm seamer Obed McCoy has now been added to the 15-player squad for the West Indies Senior Men’s T20I, and he is replacing medium-pacer Matthew Forde for the rest of the five-match T20I series against England in Saint Lucia.
It is reported that Forde sustained a left thigh injury during the match’s training on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, in Saint Lucia. The 22-year-old Forde will continue to be monitored by the medical professionals as he works toward a full recovery.
As a result of this, McCoy, who was initially unavailable because of an injury sustained during the Caribbean Premier League, has now been cleared to return to play. The left-arm player will now join the squad ahead of the back-to-back matches over the weekend, which will close out the Rivalry series.
Also, the West Indies have added all-rounder Shamar Springer and pacer Alzarri Joseph to their T20I squad before the final leg of the “Rivalry” series against England. This was in a bid to make the team powerful, as it had already lost two initial matches held in Barbados.
Springer, who recently made his debut on an international stage on the West Indies tour of Sri Lanka, came in as a replacement for Andre Russell, who suffered an injury on his left ankle during the opening T20I held in Barbados.
Meanwhile, Joseph rejoined the squad after a two-match suspension and took the spot of Shamar Joseph.
The West Indies are down to 0-3 in the five-match series, and these changes strive to boost the team for the rest of the two matches.
The West Indies T20I squad for Saint Lucia matches is as follows:
Captain: Rovman Powell
Roston Chase
Matthew Forde
Shimron Hetmyer
Terrance Hinds
Shai Hope
Akeal Hosein
Alzarri Joseph
Brandon King
Evin Lewis
Gudakesh Motie
Nicholas Pooran
Sherfane Rutherford
Romario Shepherd
Shamar Springer
The West Indies now look forward to giving their best performance in the next two matches and avoiding their disappointing defeat.