Holder the hero as West Indies get amazing series win

Jason Holder

Jason Holder became the first West Indies bowler to take a hat-trick in Twenty20 Internationals and only the fourth player of all time to grab four wickets in as many deliveries, as the home team had a sensational win over England to climax the five-mat series last Sunday night.

With England requiring 20 runs from the final over in pursuit of 180 in front a carnival-like crowd, Holder knocked over Chris Jordan (7), Sam Billings (41), Adil Rashid (0) and Saqib Mahmood (0) to send the innings crashing to 162 all out with a ball to spare, and hand West Indies a precious 3-2 series win over the World Number 1 ranked side.

Holder, whose two previous overs went for 25 runs, started with a no-ball but then kept Jordan scoreless from the next delivery before getting him to hole out to mid-wicket off a low full toss. In a sensational end to the contest, Billings then carted the very next delivery down the throat of substitute Hayden Walsh at mid-wicket again before Adil Rashid skied the hat-trick ball to Odean Smith at deep square.

Then with his supporters in the stands chanting “Jason, Jason”, Holder bowled Saqib Mahmood off the inside edge with a full length delivery which brought these memorable series to a historic end. He finish with 5-27 as West Indies clinched their second multi-game series win over England.

Holder again confirmed his status as one of the world’s leading allrounders across all formats and was voted Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the-Series. He said the performance was redemption for a below-par game in the fourth Betway T20 International on Saturday night.

Holder was supported by new-ball partner, outstanding left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, who claimed four for 30, and set England back by removing dangerman Jason Roy for eight with the fifth ball of the innings, the right-hander edging a sweep into his pad to be caught by wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran running around to short leg.

James Vince put England back on course with 55 off 35 balls, striking seven fours and a six, and putting on 32 for the second wicket with Tom Banton (16) and 46 for the third wicket with captain Moeen Ali (14).

Akeal Hosein

Hosein returned for his second over in the 12th to engineer a slide which saw for wickets tumble for 33 runs in 31 balls and though Billings, who hammered a four and two sixes in a 28-ball cameo, added 43 for the seventh with Jordan, the advantage was with West Indies at the start of the final over.

Kieron Pollard had earlier top-scored with an unbeaten 41 off 25 balls as West Indies, opting for first knock, posted 179 for four off their 20 overs. Opener Brandon King chimed in with 34 off 31 balls while Kyle Mayers scored 31 from 19 deliveries.

West Indies team departs from Barbados on Monday for India where they will play three T20Is and three One-Day Internationals.