Brandon King’s unbeaten 82 and skipper Rovman Powell’s explosive 50 powered West Indies to a thrilling 10-run victory over England, establishing a commanding 2-0 lead in their five-match T20 international series in Grenada on Thursday. In a remarkable turnaround, West Indies opener King displayed his prowess with eight fours and five sixes from 52 balls, rescuing the team from a precarious 54-4 to a strong finish of 176-7 at the National Stadium in St. George’s. Despite winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, England struggled against a disciplined home team, finishing at 166-7.

Tourist Sam Curran led England’s batting with a score of 50 off 32 balls, but they faced constant challenges in reaching the required run rate against the formidable West Indies bowling attack. Alzarri Joseph stood out with figures of 3-39 off four overs, while spinner Gudakesh Motie frustrated England with an economical 1-9 from four overs.

Post-match, man-of-the-match King highlighted the significance of his resilient innings, stating,

“It was very important for me to stay there and build partnerships. We’re playing well, and everyone’s playing with confidence.”

England captain Jos Buttler acknowledged the impact of the explosive latter part of the West Indies innings, conceding:

“They had a couple of big overs at the back end which pushed the score up, but we’re only losing by 10 — there’s plenty of ways we can find those 10 runs.”

King’s unbeaten knock received crucial support from Powell, who made a swashbuckling cameo, contributing to West Indies posting a competitive total. Powell’s half-century off just 28 balls, featuring five sixes and three fours, included a standout 16th over where he dominated Curran, scoring 30 runs with four sixes.

Adil Rashid emerged as the top performer among England bowlers with figures of 2-11 off four overs. With the win, West Indies lead the series 1-0, having previously beaten England by four wickets in the opening T20 in Barbados on Tuesday. The third match of the series is set to take place in Grenada on Saturday.

England’s head coach, Matthew Mott, is calling on fans to exercise patience as the new-look white-ball team undergoes a transformative phase. With just three opportunities to play as a cohesive unit, the revamped England side faced a setback, succumbing to a four-wicket defeat against West Indies in the third ODI, resulting in a 2-1 series loss.

A cadre of emerging talents, including Phil Salt, Will Jacks, and Harry Brook, played under skipper Jos Buttler’s leadership. Only four players boasted 10-plus ODIs, creating a dynamic yet inexperienced team. Meanwhile, West Indies, also in transition after missing out on the 50-over World Cup, showcased resilience with standout performances from Shai Hope and others.

Despite frustrations over the team’s inability to execute a complete game, Mott acknowledges promising signs of unity and camaraderie. Expressing the team’s genuine affection for one another, he sees these positive dynamics as crucial for future success.

Mott commends the remarkable comeback of young all-rounder Sam Curran, emphasizing the team’s commitment to investing in his potential. Teen spin sensation Rehan Ahmed, tasked with filling the shoes of veteran Adil Rashid, earns praise as a “revelation” for his exceptional performance throughout the series.

Despite challenging conditions in the third ODI, where England bowled second in a rain-affected game, Mott takes pride in the team’s fight. With a reduced target, the squad showcased character and resilience, highlighting moments of brilliance from players like Will Jacks.

With ODI cricket concluding, Mott shifts the team’s focus to T20Is, expressing confidence in England’s established T20 brand. Jos Buttler will return to opening the batting, marking a strategic move for the upcoming series against West Indies.

Anticipating an easier transition to T20 cricket, Mott underscores the clarity of roles in this format. He acknowledges the infusion of new players with experience but emphasizes the team’s readiness to tackle the challenges, expressing eagerness for the upcoming series.

A notable addition to the T20I series is legendary all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, serving as a mentor. Flintoff’s return to the spotlight after a car crash adds an inspiring touch, and his dual role as a coach for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred signals a commitment to shaping the future of English cricket.

In the aftermath of England’s disappointing four-wicket defeat to the West Indies in their third series match at Kensington in Bridgetown on Sunday, Captain Jos Buttler found solace in the team’s batting performance. Addressing the audience during the post-match presentation, Buttler lauded the effective partnership between Duckett and Livingstone in the first innings, which contributed significantly to their competitive score. Despite acknowledging a few batting errors and lapses in concentration, Buttler expressed optimism about the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies.

“We fell just short with the bat. The partnership between Duckett and Livingstone was pivotal in achieving a respectable score. Unfortunately, lapses in concentration affected our performance, and we made some mistakes with the bat. The wet ball presented challenges, but the team put in a commendable effort. Jacks, with his impactful spell, played a crucial role in bringing us back into the game. This marks the beginning of a promising journey for this group of players, and we eagerly anticipate the change of format against a formidable side,”

remarked Buttler.

Reflecting on the match, West Indies, after winning the toss, opted to field first. Philip Salt (4 runs from 6 balls) and Will Jacks (17 runs from 20 balls) opened for England but struggled to make a significant impact.

In contrast, Ben Duckett’s impressive innings of 71 runs from 73 balls emerged as the standout performance for the away side. Duckett’s fiery knock stabilized the middle order, propelling England to a total of 206/9.

The Caribbean bowling attack, led by Matthew Forde and Alzarri Joseph, proved formidable, each securing three wickets in their respective spells.

Rain disrupted the start of the second innings, resulting in a revised target of 188 runs. Alick Athanaze (45 runs from 51 balls) set the tone with an explosive start, while Keacy Carty (50 runs from 58 balls) and Romario Shepherd (41 runs from 28 balls) played pivotal roles in securing a convincing victory for the West Indies.

With this four-wicket win, West Indies clinched a 2-1 series victory.

Former West Indies batting sensation Marlon Samuels has been slapped with a six-year ban from all cricketing activities due to his failure to disclose benefits received during the Abu Dhabi T10 league. The ban, effective from November 11, stems from Samuels breaching the Emirates Cricket Board’s anti-corruption code on four counts.

Playing 71 Tests, 207 ODIs, and 67 T20Is, Samuels faced charges related to the Abu Dhabi T10 league in 2019. The International Cricket Council (ICC), acting as the Designated Anti-Corruption Official of the Emirates board, initiated the charges in September 2021.

The tribunal found Samuels guilty in August, citing his failure to disclose gifts or benefits that could bring the sport into disrepute. He was also guilty of not disclosing hospitality with a value exceeding USD 750 and obstructing the investigation by not cooperating.

The ICC emphasized Samuels’ obligations under the Anti-Corruption Codes, stating,

“The ban of six years will act as a strong deterrent to any participant who intends to break the rules,” according to Alex Marshall, the ICC General Manager of HR and Integrity Unit.

Despite his ban, Samuels left an indelible mark on cricket, particularly with top-scoring performances for the West Indies in the T20 World Cup finals in 2012 and 2016. Accumulating over 11,000 runs in international cricket, his achievements are now overshadowed by his involvement in anti-corruption violations.

This is not the first time Samuels has faced sanctions; he was previously banned for two years in 2008 for

“receiving money or benefits that could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute.”

Having last played for the West Indies in 2018, Samuels officially announced his retirement in 2020. The ban serves as a significant blow to the legacy of a cricketer who once stood as a key figure in West Indies cricket.