GROS ISLET, St. Lucia — The West Indies successfully completed a remarkable run chase by defeating England by five wickets in the fourth Twenty20 international match on Saturday. The thrilling encounter showcased impressive performances from Shai Hope and Evin Lewis, who both achieved half-centuries, contributing to a brisk opening partnership of 136 runs.

Hope scored 54 runs off just 24 balls, while Lewis contributed with a stunning 68 runs from 31 deliveries, which included seven sixes and four fours. This explosive partnership, lasting only 9.1 overs, allowed the West Indies to chase down a target of 219 runs effectively.

The West Indies’ strong start faced a setback when Lewis, Hope, and Nicholas Pooran fell to consecutive deliveries in the 10th over, creating a moment of tension in the innings. However, captain Roston Chase stabilized the situation with a steady performance, scoring 38 runs off 23 balls. Sherfane Rutherford went on to secure the victory by hitting successive sixes, leaving the West Indies to complete the chase with an over to spare.

During the match, a total of 32 sixes were struck, with both teams contributing 16 sixes each. Reflecting on the game, Hope emphasized the importance of assessing field conditions. “We had to assess the conditions. That’s one thing we struggled with in the first three games in the powerplay,” he stated. He also noted the team’s challenge with early wickets and highlighted the need to understand and adapt to the playing conditions.

England had already clinched the five-match series prior to this encounter, having won the first three matches by margins of eight, seven, and three wickets, respectively. This series, along with the earlier three-match one-day series, saw the team winning each match after winning the toss.

In the first innings, England set a formidable total of 218-5, equalling the highest score ever recorded at the Darren Sammy Stadium. Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell, both with strong Caribbean connections, were pivotal for England, each scoring half-centuries. Bethell, raised in Barbados, remained unbeaten with 62 runs from 32 balls, while Salt, born in Wales but also raised in Barbados, scored 55 runs off 35 balls at the top of the order.

Will Jacks (25), Jos Buttler (38), and Sam Curran (24) added valuable runs to the England score, fortifying their innings. The West Indies began their chase with enthusiasm, as Hope reached his half-century in just 23 balls. At the end of the powerplay, the West Indies stood at 69-0, and they crossed the hundred mark in only 7.3 overs.

Initially more cautious than Hope, Lewis found his rhythm and soon unleashed powerful strokes, reaching his half-century in 26 balls. The partnership for a century between Hope and Lewis took just 45 balls, appearing almost unbeatable until Lewis played a loose shot to Rehan Ahmed, resulting in his dismissal to Dan Mousley.

Hope fell victim to a run-out immediately after and Pooran was dismissed for a duck, leaving the West Indies at 136-3. Despite the loss of quick wickets, Powell helped regain momentum with his 38 runs before being trapped lbw by John Turner in his T20 debut. Needed 21 runs from the last three overs with five wickets remaining, the West Indies found themselves with 15 runs needed from the final two balls.

As the team closed in on the target with singles, Rutherford managed to find his rhythm, hitting two consecutive sixes off Mousley to ensure a sensational win for the West Indies.