West Indies' record opening partnership guides to second successful T20I chase

Evin Lewis and Shai Hope’s record opening partnership guided West Indies to win the fourth T20I of the five-match series. Hosts West Indies recorded their second-highest successful T20I chase. 

Already trailing by 3-0, West Indies captain Rovman Powell chose to field first after winning the toss at Gros Islet. 

English openers Phil Salt and Will Jacks provided a good start as they set up a 56-run partnership in five overs. England scored 63 for one at the end of the powerplay. 

After Jacks was out for 25 off 12 balls (one four and two sixes), Salt had a 48-run partnership with the skipper Jos Buttler for the second wicket. Salt scored his fourth T20I half-century, and Roston Chase dismissed him for 55 off 35 balls (five fours and four sixes).

Buttler scored 38 off 23 balls (two fours and three sixes), while Liam Livingstone was dismissed for four runs. 

Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran had a 63-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

After managing a powerful start, Caribbean openers Evin Lewis and Shai Hope set up a record T20I opening partnership for West Indies. After scoring 68/0 at the end of the powerplay and completing 100 runs in just 7.3 overs, they had a 136-run partnership for the first wicket. While Lewis scored 68 runs off 31 balls (four fours and seven sixes), Hope scored 54 off 24 balls (seven fours and three sixes). 

However, in the 10th over of the innings, West Indies lost three wickets in the first three balls, including Hope’s run out. While Nicholas Pooran was out for a duck, West Indies were down to 136/3. 

Shimron Hetmyer (7) was out cheaply in the 14th over. However, the skipper Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford then strongly guided the hosts to the target. Powell scored 38 off 23 balls (two fours and three sixes), and Rutherford scored 29 not out off 16 balls (three sixes).