The fifth T20 between the West Indies and England wasn’t meant to end like this. After a series of electrifying performances, particularly from the West Indies’ top order in the fourth game, fans anticipated a thrilling finale. But cricket, ever the game of uncertainties, added rain to the mix. A washout in the 5th T20 left the Darren Sammy Stadium soaked and silent, cutting short what might have been another Caribbean masterclass or a statement finish from England.
With England leading the series 3-1, the game was technically a dead rubber. But try telling that to the crowd in St. Lucia, who had just seen their team pull off a record chase the day before. The West Indies were off to a flier again, reaching 44 without loss in five overs, Evin Lewis smoking two sixes and three boundaries to remind everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous openers in the format. Then came the rains—unforgiving, unrelenting, and decisive. Five overs in, the match was called off, leaving everyone with an unfinished script and a sense of what might have been.
Evin Lewis and the Start That Wasn’t Meant to Finish
Evin Lewis was in the zone. Smacking John Turner for a towering six over deep midwicket and following it up with a blistering drive for four, he was clearly carrying the swagger from his 136-run opening stand with Shai Hope in the previous game. Lewis had just survived a scare—a bouncer that ricocheted off his helmet—when the rain arrived.
Shai Hope, steady and composed at the other end, contributed 14 off 10. Together, they looked like they might deliver another powerplay blitz, the kind that could rattle any bowling attack. Unfortunately for fans, this chapter ended in waterlogged chaos rather than the fireworks it promised.
England: Clinical, Consistent, and Deserving Winners
England came into the Caribbean looking to fine-tune their T20 machine, and they largely succeeded. A 3-1 series win against a mercurial West Indies side speaks volumes about their depth and adaptability. While the washout meant they didn’t get to cap the tour with a final win, their performances in the earlier games left little doubt about who was the better team overall.
Phil Salt, with his fearless strokeplay, was a standout. Smashing 162 runs in the series, including a sublime century in the opener, he made a case for becoming a permanent fixture in England’s T20 setup. Jacob Bethell, just 21, showed maturity beyond his years, scoring 127 runs at a blistering strike rate of 173.97. These young guns were supported by the seasoned Jofra Archer and Saqib Mahmood, the latter being particularly lethal with nine wickets in the series, many of them early breakthroughs in the powerplay.
England’s balance across all departments is what set them apart. From Mahmood’s clever use of crosswinds to Archer’s unrelenting pace and Bethell’s adaptability, they were always a step ahead.
West Indies: Flashes of Brilliance Amid Inconsistency
The West Indies’ 3-1 defeat will sting, but it wasn’t without its highlights. Their historic chase in the fourth T20 showed just how dangerous they can be when everything clicks. Captain Rovman Powell was a powerhouse, accumulating 153 runs in the series with a mix of brutal hitting and intelligent shot selection. Evin Lewis, despite missing the first few games, made his mark in the latter stages, reminding everyone of his match-winning ability.
On the bowling side, Akeal Hosein stood out. The left-arm spinner didn’t have the support he needed from the rest of the attack, but his economy and knack for breakthroughs kept the West Indies in the fight more often than not.
Still, inconsistency plagued the hosts. Their bowling was toothless at times, and their batting lacked the cohesion needed to challenge a team as disciplined as England. For a squad with so much raw talent, the challenge remains to find rhythm and reliability.
The Unfinished Finale: What Could’ve Been
What hurts about the washout isn’t just the anticlimax—it’s the questions it leaves unanswered. Could the West Indies have repeated their heroics from the fourth game? Would England’s bowlers, including a returning Jofra Archer, have found a way to dismantle the in-form opening pair? The fifth T20 was shaping up to be a fitting finale, a showdown that would allow both teams to test their limits one last time.
Instead, we got rain and an early pack-up. It’s a reminder that, for all the planning, cricket has its own unpredictable rhythm.
What Next?
For England, this series win is another step toward T20 dominance. With younger players proving their mettle and experienced campaigners performing as expected, they leave the Caribbean confident and battle-hardened. The West Indies, on the other hand, have work to do. Their potential is undeniable, but unlocking it consistently will be their biggest challenge as they prepare for future contests.