RCA Telegram News California - Pollard leads West Indies to 179-4 in England decider

Pollard leads West Indies to 179-4 in England decider
Pollard leads West Indies to 179-4 in England decider

Pollard leads West Indies to 179-4 in England decider

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard top-scored with 41 not out as the hosts made 179 for four against England in Sunday's fifth and deciding Twenty20 international in Barbados.

Text size:

England spinners Adil Rashid, Liam Livingstone and captain Moeen Ali returned combined figures of four for 54 at the Kensington Oval, with the series all square at 2-2.

But the pacemen were hit round the ground.

West Indies openers Brandon King (34) and Kyle Mayers (31) shared a stand of 59 before the run-rate slowed during the middle overs.

Pollard and Rovman Powell, a century-maker in midweek, upped the tempo in an unbroken stand of 75 that included 66 off the last 24 balls.

Pollard faced 25 balls while Powell smashed four sixes in a 35 not out made from 17 balls.

England recalled Saqib Mahmood in place of left-armer Tymal Mills only for the paceman's first ball to be hit straight back over his head for six by King.

After wicketkeeper Sam Billings missed a chance to stump King off Moeen, leg-spinner Rashid made the breakthrough via a brilliant relay catch. Jason Roy clung on to a head high chance near the deep midwicket rope and underarmed the ball to Phil Salt before falling over the boundary.

Livingstone removed both Romario Shepherd and King in a return of two for 17. A googly from Rashid, who also took 2-17 but in four overs to his team-mate's three, accounted for Nicholas Pooran.

Then came the charge to leave England needing a challenging 180 for victory.

T.Parisi--RTC