Betway T20I series: West Indies fall after Moeen Ali heroics

By Brandon Corlette in Barbados

England bounced back in the fourth T20 International at the buzzing Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. On the back of Moeen Ali’s 28-ball 63 and 2-28, England recorded a 34-run win to level the series 2-2. There is therefore “all” to play for today, Sunday, January 30.
West Indies began the chase of 194 with a brave start from openers Kyle Mayers and Brandon King. The duo played some calypso shots and added 56 runs in the powerplay. The England bowlers were not allowed to settle, as Mayers racked up his highest T20I score of 40. However, he picked the safe hands of Chris Jordan at long-off during the bowling of Ali, and his 23-ball knock, which had four sixes and two fours, came to an end.
After that blistering 64-run partnership, Pooran joined King, but the latter, who wore a bandana and gave Ramnaresh Sarwan vibes, was caught at long-on for a 27-ball 26, which was decorated with four boundaries.
Last innings’ centurion Rovman (05) Powell was then bowled all ends up by an Adil Rashid googly with the score at 78-3 in 10.4 overs. Powell, who made 22 from 16, slammed two powerful sixes off successive balls, but with the next ball, he found long-on.

Liam Livingstone, who bowls off-spin and leg-spin, was slammed for a 111-metre six by pocket-rocket Pooran.
After Pooran departed at 97-4 in 13.3 overs, Kieron Pollard joined Jason Holder, and the latter struck three sixes, but was removed for a 23-ball 32 with the score at 144-5 in 17.2 overs.
Darren Bravo finally made an appearance to the crease, batting at seven. West Indies needed 49 runs from 12 balls, and England were in cruise control. Bravo and Pollard struggled to find the ropes, and it was game-over. West Indies ended on 159-5 in 20 overs.

Moeen’s masterclass, Roy’s rocket
Under clear skies, West Indies won the toss and opted to field first, Dominic Drakes and Kyle Mayers coming into the starting XI in place of Shai Hope and Fabian Allen.
Tom Banton was removed early. He tried to hit a Jason Holder delivery over the leg-side but was undone by the bounce, and was caught at mid-on by Kyle Mayers with the score at 8-1. Banton made four.
The dangerous Jason Roy and the classy James Vince ensured England posted 45 runs in the powerplay. Roy took Sheldon Cottrell to the cleaners, slamming him for a 100-metre six, then punishing Drakes and Romario Shepherd.
In pugnacious mood, Roy reached his fifty from 34 balls with a thumping six off Drakes.
England were cruising, after 10 overs, at 84-1, but Kieron Pollard came into the attack and slowed things down. Roy’s innings eventually succumbed to the bowling of Pollard, and he was caught-behind for 52 from 42 balls, which included five fours and three sixes.
After that 85-run partnership, captain Moeen Ali partnered James Vince with the score at 93-2 in 11.3 overs.
Akeal Hosein switched ends and struck gold, removing James Vince for 34 from 26 balls. Vince, who struck two sixes and two fours, hit one down short third-man to Mayers when the score was at 97-3 in 12.3 overs.
Ali then dealt with Jason Holder, slamming the seamer for 28 runs in the 18th over. The left-handed Ali struck Holder for four sweet sixes in a row, one of which slammed the glass at the media box and had journalists scampering from their seats.
Shepherd then switched ends and ended Liam Livingstone’s struggles for 16 from 15 balls. The Guyanese bowled wide outside off-stump and was rewarded when Livingstone spooned one to King at cover, with the England score at 162-4.
After that 65-run partnership, Mooen Ali continued to destroy the bowling, and reached his fifty in 23 balls. Ali played some delightful shots, slamming a Shepherd full ball on leg-stump over extra cover for the shot of the day.
Ali’s brilliance ended when he struck one down long-on, the first ball of the final over, when the score was at 180-5. His scorching knock included seven sixes and one four from 28 balls.
Phil Salt failed to rub salt into the Windies’ wounds, as he was removed by Holder, but Billings (13) pushed England to 193-6 in 20 overs.
Holder claimed 3-44 in four overs, while Pollard had top figures of 1-23 in four overs.
The final match of this exciting Betway series will bowl off today, Sunday January 30, from 16:00 in Barbados.