Duckett shines as England beat West Indies by 37 runs to secure T20 series sweep

Ben Duckett blasted a whirlwind 84 from 46 balls as England posted their second highest T20 International score of 248 for three before restricting West Indies to 211 for eight to win by 37 runs and sweep the three-game series on Tuesday.

West Indies elected to bowl but could not find consistency in line and length on a flat batting wicket and were carted around the Rose Bowl as England smashed 15 sixes in the innings on the way to their imposing score.

Opener Jamie Smith contributed 60 from 26 balls for his first T20 international half-century as England reached 135-1 at the midway point of their innings, their highest 10-over score.

West Indies were always struggling in their chase as they lost wickets at regular intervals but their total was boosted by a fine unbeaten 79 from 45 balls by Rovman Powell before they ran out of deliveries.

The match aggregate of 459 runs is the highest in a T20 international in England, as the home side added win to their sweep of the three-game One-Day International series, a perfect start for new white ball captain Harry Brook.

“Very pleased, the lads put a really good shift in and played some exceptional cricket,” Brook told Sky Sports. “I like the depth in the batting, it gives the lads at the top the license to get us off to a fast start and we saw that tonight.”

Openers Smith and Duckett put on 120 in 63 deliveries for the first wicket. No line or length was safe as the pair used invention and daring to move around the crease and find boundaries at will.

Duckett raced to his highest T20 international score but was bowled around his legs by Akeal Hosein.

Brook (35 not out from 22 balls) and Barbados-born Jacob Bethell (36 from 16 balls) added 70 in the final 31 deliveries of the innings to take England to their massive score.

The 25 dot balls that West Indies bowled are the fewest England have faced in a completed innings. West Indies never looked like getting close to their target despite an enterprising 45 from 27 balls by captain Shai Hope, until Powell came in at number six and gave them a late boost.

England seamer Luke Wood was the pick on a difficult night for the bowlers with 3-31 in his four overs.

“We have not grasped those crucial moments in the game, whether it is with bat or ball. We have not managed to put that complete game together in this series. We have to improve everywhere,” West Indies captain Shai Hope said.

Meanwhile, West Indies batter Shai Hope is in line to play his first Test in almost four years after being recalled to the squad for their home series against Australia, but veteran pacer Kemah Roach has been dropped.

The three-Test series, which begins in Barbados on June 25, marks the start of the team’s new World Test Championship cycle.

Limited-overs captain Hope has played 38 Tests, the last of which came in Sri Lanka in late 2021.

Kevlon Anderson earned a first test call-up while Brandon King was also included in the squad to strengthen their batting order against World Test Champions Australia’s formidable pace attack.

“Brandon King’s inclusion fits a role we have identified that needs special focus to take our team to those closer to the top of the rankings,” head coach Daren Sammy said in a statement issued by Cricket West Indies on Tuesday.

With Roach dropped from the squad, which is captained by Roston Chase, the pace bowling duties will largely fall to Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph.

Sammy asked fans to be patient with the team, which currently ranks eighth in tests.

Agencies