King leads West Indies to T20 victory over England

5 months ago 69
Brandon King batting for the West IndiesBrandon King hit eight fours and five sixes in his 52-ball knock
Second T20, Grenada
West Indies 176-7 (20 overs): King 82* (52), Powell 50 (28); Rashid 2-11
England 166-7 (20 overs): Curran 50 (32); Joseph 3-39
West Indies won by 10 runs
Scorecard

Brandon King hit an unbeaten 82 as West Indies beat England by 10 runs in the second T20 in Grenada to go 2-0 up in the five-match series.

The Jamaican opener put on an 80-run partnership with captain Rovman Powell after the hosts slipped to 54-4 in the ninth over.

Sam Curran endured a torrid 16th over at the hands of Powell, conceding 30 runs including four sixes, before dismissing the 30-year-old with his final delivery.

But King carried on the charge, striking Rehan Ahmed's next over for 18, as the West Indies finished on 176-7.

England captain Jos Buttler fell tamely in the third over of their chase, caught in the covers off the bowling of Akeal Hosein.

His side fell behind the rate and lost wickets at steady intervals, with the next six batters all caught in the deep as they sought to mimic the boundary-heavy West Indies innings.

Curran, promoted up the order to number four, offered some resistance as he hit his maiden T20 international fifty, but was out next ball to Alzarri Joseph, who took 3-39, leaving the rest with too much to do.

The teams remain in Grenada for the third T20 on Saturday.

West Indies beat England in Grenada - as it happenedEngland in West Indies 2023 - fixtures & results

England outclassed by powerful Windies

After a subpar performance in the opening match of the series in Barbados, England appeared to have justified their decision to bowl when the hosts lost four wickets for 11 runs in the space of three overs.

Chris Woakes dismissed the dangerous Kyle Mayers before Buttler introduced five successful overs of leg-spin after the powerplay, with Adil Rashid picking up two wickets and Ahmed one.

Rashid, who took an excellent 2-11, finished his spell in the 15th over, with King and Powell accelerating after his exit from the attack, smashing the next 12 balls for 48.

Powell started Curran's second over on 22 but had raced to fifty by the fifth delivery, before holing out to Harry Brook at long-on.

Tymal Mills took two wickets with the last two balls of the innings but the damage was done.

West Indies struck 27 boundaries, including 14 sixes, from their 20 overs, but England were unable to copy their style, picking out fielders on the ropes instead.

Liam Livingstone scored 17, hammering 15 runs from the 12th over, but was caught by Powell at long-on the next time he faced, while Curran sliced to Hosein at point straight after reaching his half-century.

England now need to win three consecutive matches if they are to win the series, a tall task given the current form of both sides.

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