Jason Holder takes four wickets in four balls as West Indies beat England in T20 series decider

England slumped to series defeat in cricket’s traditional home of fast bowling on Sunday night after being suffocated by spin.

Jason Holder was at the centre of the celebrations as victory was confirmed by his four wickets in as many balls in the final over but in truth a second-string side led by Moeen Ali that had set up the winner-takes-all contest with victory on the same Kensington Oval turf 24 hours earlier were picked apart by Akeal Hosein’s slow left-armers.

When James Vince hauled Hosein from outside off to hole out to deep midwicket, England were 112 for five in the 14th over and the asking rate had climbed into double figures.

Jason Holder bagged four wickets in four balls in the final over to seal West Indies victory

Vince had been the anomaly amongst England batters, finding timing others could not to hit a 30-ball half century but he could not see things through.

England were 86 for two at the halfway stage, just as their opponents had been at the same juncture earlier in the day, but lost their way when Moeen succumbed immediately after drinks when he patted a long hop from Holder to extra cover.

Hosein finished with four for 30 after securing the prize wicket of Vince, who is trying to prove himself as an alternative anchor to Dawid Malan here, between errors from Liam Livingstone and Phil Salt.

With 48 required off the final 18 balls, England’s travelling support in another raucous crowd were given hope when Odean Smith began with five wides in an over that cost 20.

Spinner Akeal Hosein also bagged four wickets to help West Indies seize control of the decider

But Sheldon Cottrell gave Holder 20 runs to work with in the last and despite a no ball reducing the equation to 18 from six, Chris Jordan, Sam Billings and Adil Rashid were all held on the rope during a scintillating finish that confirmed West Indies as 3-2 victors.

Moeen’s pyrotechnics 24 hours earlier had guaranteed a decider for another 6,000-strong Covid-limited crowd but he struggled on a tiring surface, and should have departed first ball when Smith, whose omission earlier in the series led to such a rumpus that coach Phil Simmons was forced to deny victimisation, found his outside edge only for Holder to floor a simple chance at wide slip.

Smith’s first ball of the spell had effectively cost eight – Tom Banton’s six sandwiched two wides – but his ability to produce slippery pace from a stocky frame wreaked havoc.

On the same pitch used for the run-fest in midweek that saw both teams make 200-plus totals, Kieron Pollard opted to put runs on the board after winning the toss.

James Vince looked to be carrying England in the chase until he was dismissed by Hosein 

West Indies’ innings ebbed and flowed dependent on who was bowling at the time, with the home batsmen looking to access the short boundaries at the Kensington Oval whenever pace was put on the ball.

The difference in scoring rates was stark: while the spin triumvirate of Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone combined for exemplary figures of 10-0-54-4, the seamers leaked 122 runs from the other 10 wicketless overs.

With the Indian Premier League mega auction just a fortnight away, Rovman Powell has timed his emergence in this series expertly.

Four days after crashing a 51-ball hundred on his first appearance, he was held back until the 15th over here but still helped crunch 66 runs from the final four overs alongside Windies captain Kieron Pollard.

England spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone both claimed two wickets

Despite England’s number one ranking in this format, their death bowling is not on such a lofty perch. In fact, over the past year their economy rate between overs 16-20 has been an eye-watering 10.43, the worst of the game’s 12 full member countries.

Chris Jordan missed only his third T20 international in 68 in mid-series and evoked memories of his best form in helping close out the 34-run win on Saturday evening.

On that occasion, he hit his yorkers perfectly but 24 hours later accuracy deserted him and Powell made him pay, crunching consecutive sixes off length balls, over midwicket and extra cover respectively.

At the other end, Pollard flexed his muscles for the first time. Having contributed just 28 runs across the first four matches, he was something like his old self

Kieron Pollard smashed 41 off 25 balls as the West Indies scored 179-4 in 20 overs

West Indies hurtled out of the blocks courtesy of their new opening partnership of Brandon King and Kyle Mayers.

But the introduction of Rashid once the powerplay was over altered the tempo considerably: Roy and Phil Salt combined for a stunning boundary relay catch to account for Mayers from his fourth delivery and he overtook Jordan to become England’s leading T20 wicket-taker when he fizzed one into Nicholas Pooran’s bails.

In between, Liam Livingstone’s leg spinners induced false shots from King and pinch hitter Romario Shepherd as England applied the manacles.

Rovman Powell hit four sixes in a quickfire 35 for the home side on Sunday night

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