The ongoing England tour of the West Indies for the white-ball series has been going badly for the visiting team. During the three-match ODI series, the Three Lions won only one game, i.e. second match. They ended up losing the series by 2-1. Now, both teams are playing a five-match T20I series in a lead-up to the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA.
Meanwhile, in the first match, the home team won the toss and elected to bowl first. However, they had a poor start with Phil Salt (40) and skipper Jos Buttler (39) putting together 77 runs in just six overs. Andre Russell, who made his comeback in international cricket after the T20 World Cup 2021, took the wicket of Salt to begin the proceedings of taking wickets and restricting runs.
After their wickets, no other batter crossed the 30-run mark and the team was bowled out for 171 in 19.3 overs. Russell and Alzarri Joseph took three wickets each. On the other hand, Romario Shepherd took two, and Akeil Hosein and Jason Holder took one each.
West Indies takes a 1-0 lead as they win by four wickets
In reply, the Maroon Brigade had a quick start as Brandon King (22) and Kyle Mayers put together 32 runs in 2.4 overs. However, they ended up losing six wickets for 123 runs, including in-form Nicholas Pooran. Also, Shai Hope’s 30-ball 36 runs didn’t help their cause. Skipper Rovman Powell (31* off 15) and Andre Russell (29* off 14) helped the team reach the target in just 18.1 overs, winning the game by four wickets.
With this, the former T20 World Cup winners have taken a lead of 1-0. For the holders, Rehan Ahmed took three wickets while Adil Rashid took two. Apart from them, Chris Woakes took one but that wasn’t enough for the team to win and make a fresh start to the tour that has proved to be worse than the ODI World Cup 2023. During the tournament, they managed to remain in the top-eight position to qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025.
This is how Twitter reacted
2 ??? ??? ??-20 ??? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???????? ?????….!!!
• ????? ?? – 29* ?? 14 ?????? [2 ????, 2 ?????]
• ???? ?? – 4 ??? ??? 19 ?? ???? 3 ?????.???????? ?? ????? ???? ??-20 ??????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ? ??? ???.#AndreRussell | #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/ccRiK1F0x5
— ????? ??? (@RP17cricket) December 13, 2023
Comeback and HOW !!!#Andrerussell #WIvENG https://t.co/az4aCg2lVH
— eshan chowdhury (@chowdhury_eshan) December 13, 2023
Since winning the 2022 T20 World Cup, England have had very little to cheer about #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/vrh3AkV42U
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) December 13, 2023
4-0-19-3 with the ball
29* (14) with the bat ?
Andre Russell sizzles on comeback to help West Indies win the 1st T20I vs England #WIvENG
— Helvin Cardoz ?? (@CardozHelvin) December 13, 2023
The 11 West Indies had against Eng in first T20I was amazing. Cannot understand why they do not dominate T20I except perhaps in spin heavy conditions. Myres, Hope, Hetmeyer, Pooran, Powell, Russel – and then King, Holder, Hosein, Shepherd with Joseph at 11. #WIvENG
— Kiran Limaye (@kiranlimaye) December 13, 2023
Getting bored of saying it, but both hasbeen clueless captain Jos Buttler and women’s coach Mott should be booted out of the white ball set-up. Along with Sam Curran.
Reset. #WIvENG— James Chan (@JamesChuChan) December 13, 2023
Andre Russell wins it for West Indies.
With ball: 4-0-19-3
With bat: 29*(14)#WIvENG | #AndreRussell pic.twitter.com/516nmIPYlj— Raj Paladi (@IamRajPaladi) December 13, 2023
? T20I wickets in his 100th match ?
Adil Rashid becomes the first England player to get a century of wickets in men’s T20Is ?#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/2RbiLvtVvH
— M Zaighum Ali (@zaighum077) December 13, 2023
The West Indies win the 1st T20.#WIvENG #PakvsAus #Abhisha #AbhiRa
— Irfan (@MIrfanBashir4) December 13, 2023
“Dazzling display of Russell Mania! ?? Unstoppable energy in the #WIvENG showdown on FanCode. Cricket at its electrifying best! ??? #RussellMania #CricketFever” pic.twitter.com/AWPWZqieL3
— Hemant ( Sports Active ) (@hemantbhavsar86) December 13, 2023
