West Indies v England – 3rd T20I LIVE – West Indies put into bat, score big, set England target of 223

A change of ends for Motie for over 9. Can West Indies break this partnership? They can’t, but good bowling from Motie limits England’s additons to five singles. That was what they needed, as the RRR increases again.

Jason Holder back into the attack, as England have fallen slightly behind the required run rate, which currently stands at 10.99. Salt plays a nice shot to the leg side that a good bit of running brings England two more runs. Four very welcome runs come from Salt who hits the slower ball to the backward square boundary. A couple more runs come from a leg side shot that falls short and England show they’re prepared to run if they have to. The final ball of the over brings up Phil Salt’s 50, comprised of three sixes and four fours. Better from England in that over, find the space and running well.

An easy midwicket boundary for Buttler to the first, slow ball from Alzarri Joseph. These two are really standing up now, just when they need to. A no ball from Joseph brings Buttler a free hit, but he can’t make the most of it, and just adds a single from his pull to the leg side. Have West Indies started the innings a little too complacently? Better bowling from Joseph with ball four, very nice length but Buttler just nudges it away. Another single to deep third, and that over cost the West Indies just nine runs.

The new bowler is Gudakesh Motie, who is greeted with a superb six from Phil Salt over long on. Just the single brings Buttler back to the strike, as Motie pulls his length back and aims more for the off stump. The England captain responds with an innovative reverse sweep to deep backward point. Salt ends Motie’s first over as he started it, with another big six over long on.

Very good start for England. Akeal Hosein will go again, and bring up a “catch it” shout from his first ball, but Salt’s shot drops a touch short. The next ball goes for one bounce and four through mid-on. West Indies change their field to put men on the off-side boundary, to which Buttler responds with a reverse sweep over backward point. They ends the over with two sensible singles. Fine partnership so far.

A change of bowlers, brings in Andre Russell, whose first ball goes to Jason Holder who just stops the ball with his foot at the rope as England add three. A bit sloppy with their fielding so far, the West Indies. Better bowling from Russell, that Buttler has a swipe at but misses before nudging the slower ball to the body for a run. Phil Salt plays the Russell’s yorker beautifully and picks up four more from a leg side swipe through cover.

Back with Hosein at the Darbeau end, and Buttler, with the second ball, positions the ball past Andre Russell for another four through mid-on. A pair of runs and a single off the next two balls, before a fumble in the field which doesn’t cost the West Indies anything but might be a sign of something. Another misfield from Mayers at point allows England to score a double and take them to 35.

Jason Holder bowls at the other end, and he starts with a length ball, and one just short, that England will take singles from. Ball three is short and Phil Salt likes the look of the offcutter, that’s too wide, and Salt is able to get a one bounce four. England know they have to go for boundaries and they’re playing positively already. No time to waste. The next ball brings up a shout for LBW, as the full ball looked to hit Salt on the pads as he was going for a slog sweep. The umpire says no, and review shows it would have hit the stumps but was pitching outside the line, so by a whisker Salt survives. (There’s also almost a run out in the same move, but that’s a different matter.) Salt, seizing the day, sends a six over the leg side with his final ball of the over. England have gotten going.

Akeal Hosein kicks things off from the Darbeau end and we almost start with a wicket, as Phil Salt very nearly plays on to his stumps. England are off the mark with the third ball as Hosein targets the off stump nicely. But Buttler finds the space to play with two huge shots in as many balls, the first over Hosein’s head, the second over long off.

He’s got very good reason to smile and make jokes. The ex captain enjoyed that knock from Nicholas Pooran, especially. Steve Finn is bit more downhearted. “Eight for two feels like a long time ago.”

“I had a proper game plan and I stuck to it,” says Nicholas Pooran at the break. “Today I was in a good position.” That’s an understatement. 82 runs from 45 balls contributing to the highest score ever recorded in Grenada. The West Indies scored 16 sixes over that innings. It’s hard to see England equalling or bettering, but stranger things have happened.

Reece Topley to bowl the final over for England, but the damage is very done. Each of the last overs has gone for more than 12 runs. A new bat for Andre Russell, and Topley gets away with the full toss, which Russell scuffs to midwicket before Jason Holder goes very high and very very long. An extraordinary shot, out of the middle of the bat, right down the ground. Another boundary for Holder, as he flicks his wrist and eases the ball between the midwicket fielders. Holder ends England’s misery with another six runs, smacked over cover.

Penultimate over then, is Curran with his final go with the ball. He opens with a wide that skips through Buttler’s legs for four – not what England needed. A single for Rutherford brings the menacing figure of Andre Russell up, and he’s being a bit tentative to start, happy to get off the mark with a drive through extra cover for a single. It’s Rutherford who smashes the first six of this partnership, a powerful shot into the top tier, off the slower ball from Curran. Curran gets his man the next ball, a bouncer, that Rutherford drags straight, and is caught by the long on fielder. A good 29 from 17 for Rutherford. A single for Jason Holder brings up Andre Russell who has a look, flicks a switch and sends one all the way, straight over for his first six.

Pressure on Rashid for what may be his last over. He’s bowled well, but there’s only so much one man can do. Pooran is enjoying his time at the crease, as Pooran scores another big six over the square leg boundary, from a googly that was practically drawn to the perfect spot on the bat to bring up the 50 partnership. A chance of a catch two balls later, but it’s too far for the fielder at deep square. One ball later is the end of Nicholas Pooran. A bit of relief for England, as the shot is same but just falls short and into the welcome hands of Livingstone. Andre Russell in at number 7 for the West Indies and he respectfully defends with the first one he faces.

Seven bowlers used for England today, with mixed results. Four to go now, as Mills is back with the ball. His first is too easy for Rutherford, who looked to be waiting for the slower ball, and sends it straight back over his head for four. He gets onto the next one, and lifts it high and far over square leg. The wind helped it over the boundary, you’d say. A good stop from Atkinson to a hard half volley that finds him at deep cover, before Pooran places the next ball, a leg cutter through midwicket. Pooran delivers the best of the day with his next opportunity, a huge strike for six over cover point. The final ball of the over is another boundary, and the most expensive over of the day, at a cost to England of 25 runs.

Into the last five overs, can Rashid produce some more magic? He’s not used to bowling this late in an innings but this is a crucial time for England. He’s turning the ball well, and the momentum feels like it’s with England. Pooran brings up the half century with the most delicate of shots, nudging the googly behind to the third man boundary. A possible LBW shout is refused, and England don’t fancy the review, as the West Indies pick up just eight from that over.

Sam Curran again, after a good first over, is hit towards the deep but a good dive from Livingstone limits it to two runs. Nothing the field can do about the next ball, though, as Rutherford shows good hands, and bisects the pair on the offside for four. Curran is mixing it up and helping England claw their way back into the game, with just 15 off the last two over. Other than the slower delivery that brought up the boundary, another decent six balls from Sam Curran.

Moeen rejoins the attack and Nicholas Pooran’s first shot against him is a thing of beauty, a leg side drive over extra cover. A single brings Rutherford to the strike, who gets off the mark with the fifth ball of the over, but it’s almost a run out. He’ll be back on next as Moeen’s very decent over cost just six runs.

Surrey’s Sam Curran comes in for England, perhaps lacking in confidence having had a difficult tour of the Caribbean so far. Still time to turn it around, though. His first ball is full, and goes for a single in the overs. His second is smashed, but along the floor and is nicely picked up. The first LBW shout of the day comes up on ball three, and though the umpire isn’t interested, England request a review. Ultra edge indicates no bat involvement, but the ball was pitched outside the line, so the decision is upheld. It was a good ball, though. Curran seems inspired and comes up with a very dangerous ball next, a wide yorker that goes straight through Pooran to the keeper. The next ball is a bit too wide, but Curran is bowling well. Can he close out the over without conceding a boundary? Better than that he claims the captain’s wicket! Redemption of sorts for Curran. The ball was a nippy bouncer, that Powell top edges. Jos Buttler has time to get underneath it and it’s a comfortable catch. A quickfire 39 for Powell.

Liam Livingstone comes in to bowl offspin to the left hander, but Rovman looks up for it. Indeed, he takes on the fuller ball from Livingstone, smashes it over long off for six, before repeating the trick almost exactly, but even further, the very next ball. 36 off 16 balls for the captain. Two wides tell us Livingstone is struggling, and which brings up a rapid 50 partnership. A better end to the over, as Livingstone costs just the three singles. Two very expensive overs we’ve just seen.

25% of the way into the match (or more) and the West Indies are in a healthy spot you’d say, further ahead of where they were a few days ago at this point. Atkinson starts the next period with a pacey ball that Powell delights in, sending it for the biggest six so far, over the square leg boundary. A single brings Pooran into the strike and he hits a slower fourth ball for a six of his own, in the opposite direction, behind square. The pair run two with the final ball of the over for a 16 run over.

Rashid continues in the attack, unsurprisingly. His balls are all over the place – in a good way – and Powell seems content to see these overs out, picking up singles where they can. But Powell is still going to go for them where he can, and he reads the fifth ball well, slog sweeping into the midwicket gap and picking up four more. A midwicket single for the captain and it’s time before the drinks break.

Tymal Mills, who has been expensive on this tour, joins the attack, and his first ball to Pooran is nudged through midwicket for a single. Good running adds a pair, and gets the captain off the mark, while keeping the strike, before he places his next shot through square leg and is just denied the boundary. Pooran hits the next ball high and long but it’s into the wind, just over the rope where some athletic fielding pats it back in, and the Windies only run one. A full, wide, slow delivery is a gift for Powell, who does get his first boundary on the final ball of the over through the gap in extra cover.

Adil Rashid comes in for England and the legspinner’s first ball is delicious, just beating Pooran’s outside edge. No run off the second ball, either, as Pooran can only drag at it. A run off ball three, but with ball four he gets his man and that’s the break England needed. Shai Hope tried to slog it but doesn’t get enough on it, or under it and is caught by Salt inside the deep midwicket boundary. Gone for 26, and it’s time for the captain, who backs himself – he scored 50 of 28 the other day. Just the one run off that over. Just what the doctor ordered.

Liam Livingstone, right arm off-spinner, into the attack for the first post power play over. His first ball is good, Pooran can only tap at it, but then latches onto the next one for a big six over long on, which brings up the 50 partnership. A leg break to the right hander hope only adds a single to the West Indies total. You sense England would like to break this partnership as soon as possible.

Reece Topley to finish the power play, as the hosts have moved nearer 10 runs an over than 5. Topley steadies the ship somewhat, with some short balls that Hope and Pooran are a bit hesitant to attack, only finding fielders, adding singles to their tally. Until the last ball of the over when Hope steers one to backward point that is well fielded by Livingstone to prevent the four.

Gus Atkinson joins the attack and Shai Hope welcomes his first ball with a maximum over long on. Timed perfectly, and made to look easy. A shorter ball for Atkinson’s second, and Hope is happy to tab it just behind square for a single. Pooran lifts ball three over the covers and it skips away to the boundary as the Windies begin to make the most of this power play. It’s starting to look like flex, as Pooran sends Atkinson’s next ball all the way for six. These two batters are definitely in at this point. Eighteen off that over.

Topley stays on the attack, and he really is attacking, but so is Shai Hope, who is making good decisions so far. Just singles from the first four balls, before Topley plays one to the left hander that’s a little too straight, it doesn’t swing, and Pooran flicks it away for a boundary that beats Mills’ dive.

Moeen with offspin to the lefthander Pooran, who is finally off the mark, as Pooran guides it through the covers. Shai Hope delivers the first six of the day, and almighty shot, straight down the ground and caught by a local who justifably enjoys the applause. Another boundary for Hope, but Will Jacks should have got down to it – instead it went through his legs. A better over for the West Indies, who go from 5 and over to 7.

Reece Topley making his first appearance on this tour of the Caribbean, and Mayers defends the first to extra cover, the second to off, and with his third ball Topley takes his man. What a ball that was, an absolute jaffa. Off a length it bounces up and Mayers squared up to it, but the ball caught an edge and was an easy catch for Jos Buttler. Two more line and lengths to the new batter, Shai Hope deliver no run but hope is off the mark with his third. An inswinger, Hope clips it to backward square.

Moeen Ali opens the bowling from the river end, and gets hit for four second ball. King slashes it through backward point over Adeel Rashid. And another one down the ground – just a bit too full from Moeen and King couldn’t resist sending it down the ground. Ball five is better though, and Moeen strikes! The perfect length and it turned just enough to go through the gate. King burned bright and is gone for 8. Mooen asks for a slip for the new batter and ends the over with a dot. Not a bat start for England.

Asked if the Windies 2-0 lead might mean they go into the game a bit more relaxed, our pundit hopes not: “You want to win series and I’d be very disappointed if they take their foot off the pedal,” says Braithwaite in the TNT Studio. “They need to be ruthless and seal the series.”

“As a spinner you always have to be on point. It’s just about clearing my head and executing the plan. Batsmen do funny things to show you off. After you get hit for two sixes you have to decide if he played a good shot or if I got it wrong. Winning always helps. “

West Indies: 1 Kyle Mayers, 2 Brandon King, 3 Shai Hope 4 Nicholas Pooran, 5 Sherfane Rutherford, 6 Rovman Powell (capt), 7 Andre Russell, 8 Gudakesh Motie, 9 Jason Holder, 10 Akeal Hosein, 11 Alzarri Joseph

England: 1 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 2 Phil Salt, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Liam Livingstone, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Reece Topley, 11 Tymal Mills

Just the one change for the West Indies – Sherfane Rutherford replaces Shimron Hetmyer.

Heads is called and heads it is. The England captain is up for a chase. West Indies will bat first. An unwelcome stat, but one that presumably doesn’t concern Buttler, is that six of the last seven matches at Grenada have been won by the team batting first. Rovman Powell, the Windies captain, indicates he’d have made the same call but says “it looks like a pretty good wicket” – it’s the same one they won on the other day. “Both captains seem convinced that it will play better.”

Jos Buttler needs just two sixes to become England’s joint highest maximum maker (with Eoin Morgan) on 120.

How about this from Andre Russell on Wednesday?

Full elevens to come, but it seems as if England will be ringing the changes. Reports are that Rehan Ahmed will give way to Ben Duckett or Reece Topley, while Gus Atkinson seems set to come in for Chris Woakes.

Welcome to over-by-over coverage of the third T20i match of this five match series between the West Indies and England. Having lost the first two, Jos Buttler’s side have just forty overs in Grenada to give themselves a fighting chance of saving the series and halting what feels like an interminable white-ball slide.

Brandon King and captain Rovman Powell both hit 50s and then the bowlers kept things tight and took regular wickets as West Indies won the second T20I.

In the second of their five-match T20 series against West Indies in the Caribbean, England won the toss and put their opponents into bat, having lost the first match against the hosts.

West Indies made 176-7 at just under nine runs an over while in response, England ended on 166-7.