They said St Lucia was a run-scoring paradise. Tonight, they were proven wrong, as England had to fight hard to overhaul West Indies’ modest total of 145-8 for a three-wicket victory, securing their first away T20 series win in two years. For the sixth match of the tour, the team that won the toss emerged victorious. However, this outcome was not solely determined by the toss, as West Indies self-destructed in the powerplay, losing four wickets in the first 20 balls of their innings.

England’s timid batting performance kept the game alive, as the tourists slipped to 37 for three before Sam Curran (41) and Liam Livingstone (39) steadied the ship amidst the chaos, guiding England to victory with four balls remaining. Remarkably, the match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground was even able to take place, given the torrential rain that had fallen in the week leading up to the game, with another downpour passing through just yesterday.

Play started almost an hour late, but England were on time. In the first over, Jacob Bethell, privately hailed by one member of England’s coaching staff as the best fielder in the country, intercepted an attempted single from Shai Hope and, with one stump to aim at, ran him out by yards. Jofra Archer and Saqib Mahmood, both highly effective over the weekend, combined once again to swing the new ball and send West Indies batters back to the pavilion. Evin Lewis was caught top-edging a pull off Mahmood’s bowling, Nicholas Pooran was clean bowled by Archer attempting a heave, and Roston Chase edged to slip as he attempted a drive, giving Mahmood his second wicket.

England were in full control. Jos Buttler fielding at short leg, two slips in place, and cover left wide open. Mahmood claimed his third wicket before the powerplay had ended as Shimron Hetmyer was caught at deep square leg. The old adage in T20 cricket is that if you lose three wickets in the powerplay, you lose the game. West Indies had lost five.

The home team managed to recover somewhat thanks to Romario Shepherd and skipper Rovman Powell, who added 73 for the sixth wicket, with Powell finishing on 54 off 40. However, Jamie Overton ended any thoughts of a Windies comeback with a double-wicket over, deceiving Shepherd with an excellent dipping slower delivery before forcing a false shot from Gudakesh Motie. When Powell holed out to him in his next over, Overton suddenly had the impressive figures of three for 20 to his name.

West Indies finished with a total that, by pre-game estimates, should never have been enough. But a nervous start from England saw both Phil Salt and Jos Buttler fall to Akeal Hosein, before Bethell edged behind second ball to leave England three down with 109 still to win. Curran, promoted to No 5, added 38 with Jacks in a partnership that seemed to remove the competitive tension from the match, only for the opener to chip to cover to give West Indies a fleeting hope.

The home team had their chances. Three of them, in fact, as the usually reliable Nicholas Pooran dropped Liam Livingstone twice in five balls. The first from a steepler that he spilled as he was running backwards, the second from a thin edge off the spinner Motie. Several Windies players dropped to the floor in disbelief. Livingstone would then be grassed again by a diving Hetmyer on the boundary several overs later.

The toss may not have decided tonight’s result, but conditions did still favour England, with dew settling and West Indies poring over every delivery as they desperately tried to dry the ball. Curran had done his best to take England home himself, but fell with 33 runs still required at a run-a-ball. Both Dan Mousley and Livingstone would be dismissed before England reached their target, but despite the closeness of the scorecard, they were favourites throughout.

England’s series win is their first away from home since October 2022 and just their second series victory in their last six attempts. The coin fell in their favour throughout, but you have to be good to make the most of your luck. In the Caribbean, they were both.

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