Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie crushed England’s renowned middle order on Wednesday as the West Indies defeated them by 30 runs in their T20 World Cup match in Mumbai. Chasing 197, England were bowled out for 166 in 19 overs.
They got off to a fast start in the chase, but Motie, who alternates between wrist spin and left-arm orthodox, deceived Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, and captain Harry Brook in a superb 3-33 spell. When Brook left for 17, it caused England to drop from a commanding 85-2 in the 8th over to 131-5 in the 14th.
Before he ran out of partners, Sam Curran bravely put them in the hunt with an undefeated 43 off 30 balls.
The West Indies’ second straight victory puts them in a strong position to advance from Group C to the Super Eights.
England sped to 31-0 off 12 balls after opener Phil Salt took Jason Holder’s opening over for 24 with two sixes and three fours, setting them the ideal start to their chase. Salt attempted another big shot, this time against Romario Shepherd, but looped a catch to Rutherford, falling for 30 in the fourth over.
With Jos Buttler at 15 and Bethell at 20, England quickly reached 67-1 at the end of the six-over power play. Buttler was caught in the deep by Rovman Powell for 21 after hitting a six off Roston Chase, but he fell while attempting to replicate the shot.
After Banton (2) was dismissed cheaply for the second straight game, England was in trouble at 90-4 when Bethell (33) followed shortly after, both to Motie. The damage was done when Motie took Brook’s prize wicket in his last over, caught and bowled for 17 to leave England at 131-5 off 14 overs.
Earlier, the West Indies posted 196-6 thanks to Sherfane Rutherford’s undefeated 76 and some late hitting from Jason Holder.
In the final overs, sixth-wicket duo Jason Holder (33, four sixes, one four) and Rutherford (seven sixes, two fours) blasted 61 in 32 balls.
After winning the toss and choosing to field, England made one change from the team that defeated Nepal in a thrilling last-ball match at the same venue on Sunday. Jamie Overton, a right-arm bowler, took Luke Wood’s place as the left-arm pacer. Roston Chase replaced Matthew Forde for the West Indies.
In the opening over, captain Shai Hope hit Jofra Archer with a straight shot to Tom Banton at cover. When Brandon King attempted to hit Sam Curran’s opening ball, he was only able to locate Phil Salt at deep cover, and it was shortly 8-2.
Shimron Hetmyer and Chase took on the England bowlers despite the dismissal of both openers. Chase struck three fours and Hetmyer smashed a huge six in the fifth over as spinner Will Jacks was mercilessly smashed for 19 runs.
Hetmyer, on 23, top-edged to Curran at fine leg after Overton stopped the run flow, leaving the West Indies 55-3. In the tenth over, the Caribbean team had fallen to 77-4 when Adil Rashid trapped Chase at 34 for his 400th wicket in T20 internationals.
The West Indies quickly reached 127-4 after 14 overs thanks to 50 runs from Rutherford and Rovman Powell in just 26 balls. Powell holed out to Overton at long-off, with Rashid striking again.
Rutherford continued to cruise and hit a four and a six off Overton to reach his fifty in 29 balls. Jason Holder hammered Curran, the last-over hero against Nepal, for 20 runs off his third over, including three sixes. Rashid took an incredible 2-16 off his four overs, making him the best bowler for England.
