AI Simulation, ENG vs WI | Shai Hope and Evin Lewis shine as West Indies win second T20I to square series in style

‌Pitch & Weather

The Bristol surface looked like a batting paradise with a fast outfield and short square boundaries aiding run-making at a fast clip. With the weather remaining clear and sunny and no rain interruptions, it was a perfect setting for a high-scoring T20I.

Toss & Conditions

West Indies won the toss and elected to field first.

Lineups

England: Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Matthew Potts

West Indies: Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope (c & wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph

Match Report

In a high-octane second T20I at the County Ground, Bristol, West Indies bounced back in style to chase down a challenging 183-run target to beat England by six wickets and level the series 1-1. The Windies skipper Shai Hope led from the front as he remained unbeaten with a calm and commanding knock of 64 off 40 balls. The wicketkeeper-batter hit five fours and three sixes to top-score in the contest and received ample support from Evin Lewis, who also scored a fifty, to complete the chase in the penultimate over. Earlier, Romario Shepherd came up with yet another disciplined spell of 2/27 in four overs to restrict the hosts to 183/6.

After being put in to bat, England made an aggressive start with Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett counter-attacking the West Indian pacers. Once Duckett departed, Smith was joined by last-match half centurion Jos Buttler as the pair kept up the pace of scoring. They helped the side to 82/2 before Smith was dismissed for a crisp 34 off 20. The latter’s dismissal triggered a collapse as the middle-order failed to build on the platform. Skipper Harry Brook fell cheaply, and with Buttler also departing shortly England found themselves in a hole. Though Tom Banton and Jacob Bethell added useful runs, some inspired death bowling from the duo of Shepherd and Jason Holder saw West Indies restrict the home side to a total below 200, perhaps 10–15 runs short given the flat Bristol surface. Buttler, once again, was the top-scorer for England with a 29-ball 49, a knock that included five fours and three sixes.

West Indies began briskly with Evin Lewis unleashing his trademark power, cracking a 34-ball 57 that dismantled the new ball attack. With the early dismissal of opener Brandon King, Hope played the perfect second fiddle to the aggressive Lewis. The southpaw smashed three sixes and six fours during his knock before being dismissed by leg-spinner Adil Rashid. For a short period of time, England hoped that they were in the game as left-arm spinner Liam Dawson sent back Sherfane Rutherford to make it two wickets in quick time. However, Hope was unperturbed as he held one end together to keep the chase under control. With Rovman Powell adding some firepower late into the innings with an unbeaten 24 off 18 balls, the visitors eased to the target with seven balls to spare. With the win, West Indies made it 1-1 as the five-match series is tantalisingly poised with three games remaining.

Player of the Match

Hope’s unbeaten anchoring knock of 64 off 40 balls was a masterclass in chasing under pressure, earning him the Player of the Match award.

Scorecard

Brief Scores: ENG 183/6 (20) [Jos Buttler 49(29), Jamie Smith 34(20); Romario Shepherd 2/27(4)] lost to WI 184/4 (18.5) [Shai Hope 64*(40), Evin Lewis 57(34); Liam Dawson 1/27(4)] by six wickets.