England’s Batting Blitz: 248 for 3
Sent in to bat by West Indies skipper Shai Hope, England didn’t waste any time asserting themselves. The charge began with a blistering 120-run opening stand in just nine overs, led by Ben Duckett’s 84 and a maiden T20I half-century (60) from Jamie Smith.
It was Smith’s second fifty in a week, having also notched one in the ODI series, and he looked right at home opening the innings. Duckett, ever reliable across formats, was simply unstoppable — his fifty came off just 20 balls, the fourth-fastest for England in T20Is.
Youngster Jacob Bethell added a flashy 36* off just 17 balls, while Brook contributed an unbeaten 35*. England’s total of 248/3 was their second-highest T20I score ever, and their highest at home.
West Indies Falter in Big Chase
In response, West Indies made a valiant attempt, but chasing 249 was always going to be a tall order. Rovman Powell tried to keep hopes alive with an unbeaten 79 off 45 balls, including four towering sixes. Shai Hope chipped in with 45, but regular wickets and England’s sharp bowling halted any real momentum.
Mark Wood (3/31) and Adil Rashid (2/30) were clinical in the middle overs, and despite West Indies’ 14 sixes (just one short of England’s 15), they finished at 211 for 8 — falling short but setting a new aggregate record for a T20I match in England.
This win also nudged England ahead 19-18 in their all-time T20I head-to-head against West Indies — the first time they’ve led that rivalry.
Duckett: England’s Quiet Multi-Format Star
Ben Duckett’s rise has been steady, and now it’s undeniable. His 84 was not just a career-best in T20Is — it was a reminder of how far he’s come. Whether it’s Test, ODI, or T20I, Duckett now feels like one of England’s most dependable openers.
His innings wasn’t just about brute force — it was about intelligence. He toyed with Akeal Hosein, one of the top-ranked T20 bowlers in the world, by mixing up unorthodox sweeps and clean shots down the ground. A particular reverse slap over cover early on set the tone, and the six he lifted behind square off a near-impossible ball was pure magic.
And perhaps most importantly, Duckett’s presence seems to have grounded and uplifted newcomers like Jamie Smith — who’s now making his mark in both white-ball formats.
Looking Ahead
With two series wins from two under Harry Brook’s leadership, England’s white-ball future looks bright. Duckett is firing, Smith is blooming, and the team is clicking in all the right places. West Indies, meanwhile, will need to regroup after being comprehensively outplayed across formats.
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