West Indies won by 17 runs
PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Jason Holder
Bowler
Kieron Pollard is asked to collect the trophy, sign of the times we're in, and he does so, the team then assemble for a photo-session. Lots of happy faces over there, lots of happy faces in the crowd as well, especially Sir Garfield Sobers, who is drawn into a long chat with Jason Holder. 'Can't keep a good man down', Pollard, in a visibly agitated post-match talk. Lots and lots have been written about this West Indies team, most of them coloured negatively, but by winning against a very strong English team, they have sent down a message or two. Both teams missed a few familiar faces, but the cricket right through the 5-match series was absorbing. In the end, it's the hosts who edged victorious and they'll take the bragging rights out of Kensington Oval. The England white-ball team head home with their next outing only in July, against the visiting Indians. On the other hand, Pollard and his supremely confident men will head out to India to what should be another stern examination of batting against spin. That ends our coverage of this series, but we'll be back with plenty of of cricket soon. For now, cheers and bye..
Kieron Pollard | Winning captain - 'Can't keep a good man down' chirps Kieron Pollard. It's wonderful, many have given up on this team, but every single individual has rallied around, there have been a lot of negative things written about us, but this win is for everyone out in the dressing room. They have worked tirelessly coming from Jamaica (after the Ireland series), and have bounced back pretty well. We now have an understanding as to how to get the game going, we have come close to winning several times before, but came short at times. We have learnt from all these things. This was a virtual final, so runs on the board are crucial, whatever we get, we can add 10-15 runs tagged to the pressure. We started well, did stall in the middle, but I thought we did well in the last four overs. The guys came out, everything we tried came off pretty well, Akeal at the start and spinners in the middle. I thought Brandon (King) had a great series, you can't keep Holder out of the game, Akeal was good and so was Odean, despite what has been written about him. His three overs at the top was crucial - as I said before, was a complete team effort.
Jason Holder | Player of the Match and Player of the Series - A classic finish, wasn't the best start, but I just wanted to stay in the game. Did not work well yesterday, but was totally opposite tonight. I was a bit disappointed with the no-ball, I look to be disciplined, but then to get the next five balls perfectly was nice. Was just pumped up, I love to play at Kensington Oval, we've the best fans in the world, credit to the English fans for coming in as well. A lot of hard work, can improve on my death bowling, add some variations. But I'm gaining confidence and so is the captain in me. Bowling the last over tonight just added to it, I'm happy that I was given the responsibility. I am feeling good about my role in the team, I pass on my experience, pride myself as a complete team player, just want to put my hand up, even when I'm not bowling, I can share a few things with the younger lot. A lot of thanks to the management and the staff. Big thumbs-up to the ECB and the English guys, they aren't just great players, but they're good and humble people. Happy to have them here in Barbados, that helps us as a team and as an economy as well. Looking forward to the Barmy Army coming over during the Test series.
Moeen Ali | Losing captain - I thought West Indies were the better team tonight. We didn't adapt well to the conditions, we played well but fell short in the end. It's something we need to work on, thought we bowled reasonably well today, but Powell and Pollard played some superb shots, we will come back better though with the experience. It seemed like that, the new ball came nicely, and was difficult when it became softer. But they were really good at adjusting to those. It's been a great lesson, these are the conditions we want to get better, we're good when the pitch is flat. Reece Topely was fantastic with the new ball and Adil Rashid was so good throughout the series. It's great fun as a captain, but Morgs is a brilliant captain, I did enjoy it though.
19:32 Local Time, 23:32 GMT, 05:02 IST: Loud celebrations at the Kensington Oval and I'm pretty sure it will go all the night. The players shake hands and then Pollard leads his team across the ground to enjoy the occasion with the partying atmosphere at the ground. Kieron Pollard got everything right today, took the right call to bat after winning the toss, got a good start, they did stall in the middle overs, but made up for it with some lusty hitting against the pacers in the death overs. The match-ups continued with the ball - Akeal was brought in to open and remove Jason Roy. Odean Smith, who had bowled only one over before tonight in the series, then cranked up the pace and also got rid of Banton. James Vince shouldered along, but the match-up game was set-up completely, pace was used to trouble Moeen and spin for the middle-order. Vince was one amongst four victims for Akeal Hosein. Sam Billings fought hard, but Jason Holder came back to wrap up the game with a double hat-trick. Presentations coming up in a while..
Holder to Saqib Mahmood, out Bowled!! West Indies win by 17 runs. But no one realised that Mahmood was bowled - was very full and at the stumps, Mahmood swung across the line, gets a thin inside edge which clips the leg-stump on its way to the boundary, tipping off the bail in the process. Holder didn't realise it, in fact he was happy that it cost him only four runs which would confirm West Indies's victory - But then they see the bails having fallen off, a wide grin on Holder's face as they celebrate. The third umpire has a look and confirms the same. So a double hat-trick to seal the series win. Saqib Mahmood b Holder 0(1)
Holder to Saqib Mahmood, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!
Reece Topley, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Holder to Adil Rashid, out Caught by Odean Smith!! Hat-trick for Holder, becomes the first West Indian to take a hat-trick in T20Is. Was the cross-seam slower ball, once again well wide of off, asking Rashid to fetch it from there to clear the shorter boundary - Rashid goes after it, doesn't get enough on the shot, plenty of height and to the left of deep square leg - Smith runs across to across and holds on. Adil Rashid c Odean Smith b Holder 0(1)
Holder to Adil Rashid, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
Saqib Mahmood, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Holder to Billings, out Caught by (sub)Hayden Walsh!! It's Hayden Walsh once again and Holder has surely won this match and the series for West Indies - look at them celebrate. Was the slower wide ball, not right in the yorker length, but Billings was looking at the shorter boundary - had to slog across the line, once again gets plenty of height, but not the distance. Walsh under the ball and he doesn't drop those. Billings c (sub)Hayden Walsh b Holder 41(28) [4s-1 6s-2]
Holder to Billings, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
Adil Rashid, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Holder to Jordan, out Caught by (sub)Hayden Walsh!! It's Hayden Walsh and he doesn't drop catches, it's a slower full-toss, perhaps the ideal ball that Jordan would have wanted, was aiming at the shorter boundary with the swipe - just doesn't get enough on the shot though, a reverse cupped catch, right in front of the ropes at deep mid-wicket. But at least, the two batters crossed and Billings will be on strike. Jordan c (sub)Hayden Walsh b Holder 7(10) [4s-1]
Holder to Jordan, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
Holder to Jordan, no run, brilliant from Holder - kept it full and kept it wide of off - Jordan had backed away and can't reach out
Holder to Billings, no ball, 1 run, wide full-toss from Holder, Billings toe-ends the slog to long-on, just a single. Oh dear! Holder has overstepped by a long way, it's a no-ball and a free-hit is coming up
Jason Holder [2.0-0-25-1] is back into the attack
Right, 20 needed from the final over. Crucially for England, they've the right man on strike - Holder went for plenty at the death in the last match, but can he defend 20 tonight?