The State of Play
Having lost the first two T20Is against the West Indies before allowing their hosts a total of 222 in Grenada in Saturday’s third contest, England looked to be dead and buried.
Enter Phil Salt. He needed just 51 deliveries to record his maiden T20I hundred, finishing unbeaten on 109 from 56 to drag England back into contention.
From there, it was Harry Brook who stepped up to smash the required 21 runs off the final over as England pulled off their third-highest chase in the format to keep the five-match series alive ahead of Tuesday’s fourth contest in Trinidad.
After producing a series of meek performances with the bat throughout their limited-overs tour of the Caribbean, Jos Buttler’s team will hope that triumph represents something of a turning point as they bid to force a decider on Thursday.
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The Windies, though, showed they have plenty of firepower of their own last time out as Nicholas Pooran hit a 45-ball 82.
They needed all five matches to seal a 3-2 series win when England last visited back in January 2022, but they will be keen to complete the job with one to spare on Tuesday.
From Grenada to Trinidad. We have arrived ahead of the final two T20Is v England.#WIvENG #WIHomeForChristmas pic.twitter.com/j6uuKOnY2Y
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) December 17, 2023
Team News
England made two alterations for the third T20I, bringing in Reece Topley and Gus Atkinson for Rehan Ahmed and Chris Woakes. They may opt against changing a winning team for this one, though more will be expected from Will Jacks at No.3 after he managed just one run off six balls last time out.
Sherfane Rutherford came in for Shimron Hetmyer to make 29 off 17 deliveries for the Windies last time out, and it remains to be seen whether the hosts will make changes following their first loss of the series.
Expected Line-ups
West Indies: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph.
England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (c), Will Jacks, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson, Tymal Mills, Reece Topley.
What they said
Salt on hitting his maiden T20I century last time out:
“It feels like it’s been a long time coming. It’s special to do it now. We’ve been talking about someone standing up and being the match-winner. It’s about playing my game and doing it my way.”
How cool must it feel to win a match for England and walk off not-out 🙌
Drink it in, @PhilSalt1 🧂#EnglandCricket | #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/mfrKHFDbLl
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 17, 2023
Liam Livingstone on his upturn after making 30 off 18 on Saturday:
“Hopefully I’m back on an upward curve with my batting which has probably been on a downward curve for the last couple of months.
“I’ve felt really good in this series, really clear and like I’m heading in the right direction. With two games left, hopefully in one of them I can go on, get a big score and win a game for England.”
Captain Rovman Powell on the Windies’ first loss of the series:
“It was obviously disappointing to score 220 and lose, but the guys gave it a fair shot. We have quality guys on the field to do the job. It’s just unfortunate it didn’t come off.
“It’s just down to us to sit down, take the flight and come up with plans. I think the plans are still very good against these English batters.”
When and how to watch
Like the rest of England’s white-ball tour, Tuesday’s match will be shown live by TNT Sports in the UK, with the fourth T20I getting under way at 20:00 UK time.
Prediction
England had looked totally bereft of confidence throughout their tour of the Caribbean, but might Saturday’s chase prove the catalyst for a turnaround?
If Salt and Brook can maintain their form from the third T20I, we’re backing England to level things up and make Thursday’s final contest a decider.
Bringing it home in some style 🔥#EnglandCricket #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/PAKL74EfYL
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 16, 2023
