Moeen Ali inspired England set up T20 decider against West Indies after 34-run win in Bridgetown

Moeen Ali produced an outstanding captain’s display to send England into a series-decider against West Indies in Bridgetown this evening.

Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen hit a rapid 63 with the bat and followed up with two wickets with his off spin as, on the same pitch used for last Sunday’s win for England in which they held off a late West Indies surge by the barest of margins, a team without its usual leader Eoin Morgan due to injury went bigger with the bat and then defended tigerishly with the ball.

After posting 193 for six, England sent down 10 overs of spin to push up West Indies’ required rate and it was up to 110 off seven overs when Adil Rashid, with series figures of 15-1-82-5 at that juncture, returned to the attack.

Ali (centre) followed up a rapid 63 with the bat and with two wickets with his off spin

Jason Holder twice used his long levers to haul the Yorkshire leg-spinner, who accounted for Wednesday’s centurion Roman Powell in his first burst, into the short leg side boundary during a cameo of 36.

But his departure with the equation whittled down to 50 off 16 sealed things for an England side looking to avoid only a second series defeat in 12.

And unlike seven days earlier when they conceded 59 off the final three overs, the death bowlers hit their intended marks with Chris Jordan and Reece Topley both outstanding.

England sent down 10 overs of spin to push up West Indies’ required rate in their chase

Chris Jordan (right) and Reece Topley (left) were both outstanding with their death bowling

Indeed, Jordan’s penultimate over cost a miserly 11 runs in the circumstances, and was completed with great rapture in the English-dominated stands of the Kensington Oval.

The 34-run success looked in jeopardy when Kyle Mayers entered the series in much the same manner as Powell had 72 hours earlier but Moeen lured him into a mishit down the ground and from 64 without loss, Windies were soon 78 for three.

Earlier, after England were inserted in the fourth match of five, Jason Roy survived a leg before DRS on nought off and was also dropped by Holder in his follow through on his way to 52 off 41 balls.

The innings hit a lull when Roy and James Vince were dismissed in consecutive overs following a stand of 85 for the second wicket.

Only 10 runs had come from as many deliveries when Moeen restored impetus with an extraordinary assault against Holder on his return for the 18th over.

Earlier, Jason Roy survived a leg before DRS and a dropped catch on his way to 52 off 41 balls

Using the crease and second-guessing Holder’s every move, left-hander Moeen crunched and caressed four successive sixes off the Windies giant, twice going down the ground before depositing one over extra cover and another to the short leg-side boundary with a flick off the stumps after Holder switched to round the wicket.

It came during an alliance of 65 for the fourth wicket to which Liam Livingstone contributed just 16.

Moeen’s 50 came from just 23 balls and he struck two more sixes off Romario Shepherd before picking out long off attempting an eighth.

Sam Billings, returning to the team after resting in midweek following his globetrotting exploits, then powered England into the 190s with two strikes over the ropes to take the team six count to 15.

Sam Billings, returning to the team after resting in midweek powered England into the 190s