WI VS ENG - 1st T20I, England tour of West Indies, 2023

Failure to qualify for the 2023 WC would've hurt the Windies, but that is past and things are looking good going into the future. They bounced back with a 2-1 series win in the ODIs and have got the winning start here tonight in the 1st T20I. The series now moves across to Grenada for the next couple of T20Is. England will be hurting from the loss here and will hope that a change of venue could bring them better luck. A short turnaround and we'll be back tomorow with all the action from the 2nd match. For now, cheers and bye..

Rovman Powell - It was a good performance. After the batting PP, we got information about how the pitch is playing and we adjusted to that. I don't think about captaincy when I'm batting, it comes only later, I just try and play my natural game. There is still room for improvement, we have to control the powerplay (with the ball), if we do that, not a lot of teams will have such power down the order and they'll be on the back-foot. We aren't thinking about the World Cup as yet, we're looking at the possible opportunities before that tournament, get our team set and then we have a good chance. 

Jos Buttler - It was always going to get harder. They adapted better, taking the pace off the ball, but we were disappointed at not getting to 200. We want to keep pushing the boundaries, but it's about finding a way to score runs, minimize the dot balls, 20-25 runs would've been ideal. The ball did get wet, had to be changed and we were up against two big hitters. There were a few positives - Phil Salt and Rehan Ahmed, obviously, they had the better big-hitters on the night.

Andre Russell | Player of the Match - Actually, life is so funny. When I got a call-up two weeks back, I was dreaming about getting a MoM award, I didn't know how it would have happen though. Since the CPL season, the wicket has been up and down, two-paced, you'll have to bowl a lot more cutters. Early on in their innings, runs were scored when there was pace. We bowled very well in the latter half. It was all about batting in pirs, we both have power (on himself and Powell), we knew we could finish off the game if we batted deep. 

22:05 Local Time, 02:05 GMT, 07:35 IST: At 123 for 6, England would've fancied their chances, but the hosts bat deep and in Powell and Russell, they had two monstrous hitters, the duo packed too much power, sent the bowlers on a leatherhunt and West Indies have completed a successful chase. England dominated the first 10 overs of the match, but the hosts pulled things back spectacularly to keep the chase within limit. Like England, their openers gave them a blistering start, King and Mayers making quickfire cameos, but England fought back through their two leg-spin twins. A rain break didn't deter them and they came back with Rehan striking twice in the 15th over. But that was as good as it got - Livingstone and Mills went for 16 runs each in the 16th and the 17th over to all but seal their fate. West Indies completed the ODI series win at this historic ground and they've started the T20I leg of the series on a high note at the same venue. Stay tuned for the presentations..

Sam Curran to Russell, FOUR, West Indies win by 4 wickets, this is their highest successful T20I run-chase at this venue - short and wide of off, Russell gets on top of the bounce and cuts it over backward point, one bounce and over the ropes

Sam Curran [2.0-0-19-0] is back into the attack

Adil Rashid to Powell, no run, Rashid tosses one outside leg, clipped straight to the fielder at short fine

Adil Rashid to Russell, 1 run, flighted delivery on off, tucked into the gap at mid-wicket for a single

Adil Rashid to Russell, FOUR, smashed, flighted delivery on off, was the leg-break, but it's so short that Russell can wait on it and then crash it past cover for another boundary

Adil Rashid to Russell, no run, good comeback from Rashid, slows down the pace on this leg-break - Russell follows the turn and pushes it to the off-side

The ball will not come back and will have to be replaced

Adil Rashid to Russell, SIX, that's bounced onto the roof and has sailed over the ground - was the wrong 'un and Russell picked it, bent down low, played with the turn and belted the slog-sweep - massive massive hit

Adil Rashid to Russell, no run, tossed up just outside off, blocked back at the bowler

Adil Rashid [3.0-0-14-2] is back into the attack

Tymal Mills to Powell, FOUR, short, wide and four, back-to-back expensive overs and West Indies are coasting now - width on offer from Mills, Powell rides the bounce and cracks it over backward point

Tymal Mills to Russell, 1 run, on a length and at the pads, nudged behind square on the on-side for a single

Tymal Mills to Russell, wide, back of a length and well down leg, called as a wide

Tymal Mills to Russell, SIX, top-edge and six - banged in short by Mills, was well directed as well, rushed Russell onto the pull, catches a big edge and the ball flew over long leg for a maximum

Tymal Mills to Russell, 2 runs, clattered, slower ball outside off - Russell backs away and drills it past extra-cover, comes back for the second