Michael Roberts: Histrionic Hitting by Harry Brooks in the 20h over by Eric Russell secures a Magical Win for England against the Windies in the Third 20-over ODI at St. Georges, 16 December 2023
Note the ‘steps
END OF OVER 1910 runs
ENG: 202/3CRR: 10.63 • RRR: 21.00 • Need 21 runs from THE LAST OVER
.END OF OVER 19 10 runs
ENG: 202/3CRR: 10.63 • RRR: 21.00 • Need 21 runs from 6 balls
19.1 Russell to Brook, SIX runs
HARRY BROOK! Sharp, full, outside off and punished right over extra cover! That might be the shot of the day, and what a time to play it!
17 needed off 5
19.2Russell to Brook, SIX runs …… Another one! Russell tries to follow Brook to the leg side but ends up serving up a rank full toss that is just helped over fine leg!
19.2 12 needed off 4 …………. Russell to Brook, 2 runs ……Short, straight, Brook pulls out to midwicket and calls two early. Salt obliges and they make it comfortably
19.3 …. Russell to Brook, SIX runs ……….Another one! Russell tries to follow Brook to the leg side but ends up serving up a rank full toss that is just helped over fine leg!
19.4 …………Russell to Brook, FOUR runs
Full, into leg stump, flicked around the corner for four!
19.5 ………….Russell to Brook, SIX runs
And Harry Brook has won it!Brook opens the face to lift a wide delivery over third to take England to a stunning victory by seven wickets! What a win, and what a way to keep the T20I series alive. Salt strolls off to a host of well-wishes from the West Indies players after his remarkable 109 not out held the chase together. Remarkable game of cricket
…and guess who received the Man of the Match Award?
It was Phil Salt of England for his score of not out in 56 balls
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Alan Gardner in ESPNcricinfo ….. Salt 109*, Brook late cameo fire England to dramatic chase of 223″ …………….. Andre Russell concedes 24 from last five balls as tourists keep series alive in thrilling fashion.
Nicholas Pooran produced a T20I career-best as West Indies showcased their six-hitting chops once again in Grenada’s National Stadium. Phil Salt then did the same on the way to a maiden T20 hundred as England rediscovered their batting mojo. And at the end, an explosive assault from Harry Brook was the clincher, as England burgled the 21 runs required from final over to bring themselves kicking and screaming back into the series at 2-1 down with two to play.
Brook finished unbeaten on 31 from seven balls, having taken Andre Russell for 4-6-6-2-6 to seal a record chase on the ground with a ball to spare. Salt was the man watching on from the other end, having himself hit nine sixes in 109 from 56 to set up England’s third-highest successful chase in T20Is. The final sixes count, after Brook’s ice-cool finish: West Indies 16-18 England.
As in the second match, England opted to bowl first and managed to inflict early damage only for West Indies’ power to leave them bruised in the final analysis. Pooran weathered the loss of both openers in the first two overs and batted astutely through the gears to make 82 from 45 balls, with a series of muscular cameos – most notably Rovman Powell’s 39 off 21 – helping to raise a formidable Manhattan through the back end of the West Indies innings.
Having limped home short of a target of 177 two days earlier, England found a spark of their own in a valiant attempt to keep the series alive. Salt and Jos Buttler, who made 51 from 34, put on a century stand as the runs flowed from the outset, only for West Indies – notably through the efforts of left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie – to keep a lid on the scoring at a crucial juncture. After Motie had finished his allocation, England were left staring down a requirement of 102 from the last seven overs.
But Liam Livingstone helped add 70 from 34 for the third wicket, Salt bringing up his century from 51 balls moments after hitting Jason Holder for back-to-back sixes. Livingstone holed out but Brook signalled his intent by launching his first ball for six to leave England needing 31 from 12. Alzarri Joseph conceded 10 from the 19th, nudging the odds in Russell’s favour – only for Brook to leave West Indies’ talismanic allrounder flat out on the canvas after a delirious finale.
