BRIDGETOWN: All-rounder Jason Holder returned career-best figures of 4-7 as West Indies thrashed England by nine wickets in the first Twenty20 International of the five-match series at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on Saturday.

Holder and Sheldon Cottrell (2-30) ripped through England’s top order on a bouncy wicket, reducing them to 49-7 at one stage before a late partnership between Chris Jordan (28) and Adil Rashid (22) helped them past the 100-mark.

They were eventually bowled out for 103 in 19.4 overs.

The hosts knocked off the runs with ease as Brandon King (52 not out) struck a fluent half-century and finished the job with Nicholas Pooran (27 not out) in 17.1 overs. England’s only success came through Rashid, who removed Shai Hope (20).

“The (conditions) were actually opposite to the wicket that we played on two or three days ago,” said England captain Eoin Morgan.

“We lost early wickets, we didn’t seem to adapt well enough in running, which is what you have to do when challenged like that with movement and a bit of bounce.” West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard was happy with the performance of his team.

“That’s the blueprint we ask guys to put up. To come out and win a match isn’t easy, to see the young guys come out and finish it off was fantastic,” he said.

“Sheldon coming back in, Jason showed his quality. These two bowlers were phenomenal. Sometimes when you get four wickets early guys can relax, but they know the importance of sticking to plans.”

Kensington Oval will host the second match of the series on Sunday.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND:Jason Roy b Cottrell 6

Tom Banton c Pooran b Holder 4

James Vince c Bravo b Cottrell 14

Moeen Ali c Allen b Holder 0

Eoin Morgan c Pollard b Shepherd 17

Sam Billings st Hope b Hosein 2

Liam Dawson run out 2

Chris Jordan c Cottrell b Allen 28

Adil Rashid b Holder 22

Saqib Mahmood c Allen b Holder 5

Tymal Mills not out 0

EXTRAS (W-3) 3

TOTAL (all out, 19.4 overs) 103

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-6 (Jason Roy), 2-10 (Tom Banton), 3-10 (Moeen Ali), 4-24 (James Vince), 5-29 (Sam Billings), 6-39 (Liam Dawson), 7-49 (Eoin Morgan), 8-85 (Chris Jordan), 9-103 (Saqib Mahmood)

BOWLING: Sheldon Cottrell 4-1-30-2; Jason Holder 3.4-1-7-4; Akeal Hosein 4-0-16-1 (1w); Romario Shepherd 3-0-25-1 (2w); Odean Smith 1-0-4-0; Kieron Pollard 2-0-11-0; Fabian Allen 2-0-10-1

WEST INDIES:

Brandon King not out 52

Shai Hope st Billings b Rashid 20

Nicholas Pooran not out 27

EXTRAS (LB-5) 5

TOTAL (for one wicket, 17.1 overs) 104

DID NOT BAT: Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein, Sheldon Cottrell

FALL OF WICKET: 1-52 (Shai Hope)

BOWLING: Saqib Mahmood 3-0-24-0; Chris Jordan 2-0-15-0; Adil Rashid 4-0-21-1; Liam Dawson 4-0-12-0; Tymal Mills 3.1-0-20-0; Moeen Ali 1-0-7-0

RESULT: West Indies win by nine wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Jason Holder

SERIES: West Indies lead five-match series 1-0.

UMPIRES: Gregory Brathwaite, Joel Wilson (both West Indies)

TV UMPIRE: Leslie Reifer (West Indies)

MATCH REFEREE: Richie Richardson (West Indies)

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2022