3 Reasons Why West Indies Choked Against England in the 2nd T20I

The second T20I at Bristol had all the feeling of a Caribbean carnival. The West Indies dug themselves out of a hole after Evin Lewis went first ball, and ran up a decent score of 196/6 on the board. Shai Hope appeared classy, Powell exploded like fireworks on a Friday night, and Holder finished it with a blitzkrieg cameo. But even with a good score on the board, England chased the runs down with 9 balls to spare. So, where did it all go wrong for the Men in Maroon? Let’s break it down.

A Promising Start That Fizzled Out

For a side that ended up with a final score of 196, and were 90/1 after 10 overs, it was a little… anti-climactic. The scoreboard reads 196, but it is all about context. It seemed that Shai Hope and Johnson Charles had set the innings up quite nicely; they blended caution and aggression well. However, once Hope fell to the cleverness of Rashid, and Charles unceremoniously chopped on to his stumps, the innings never came close to recovering from those two dismissals.

Rutherford was lukewarm at best. Powell looked to be in good nick early on, but the rate of scoring slowed down considerably. Shepherd was run out trying to take on more than was available. Holder’s late contribution (29 off 9) would have some satisfaction, but during overs 11 – 18, the West Indies lost too many wickets to create any rhythm.

Luke Wood’s Double-Strike Set the Tone

If any one man sparked England, it was Luke Wood—never mind the headlines—Wood bowled like a master craftsman. A dream start for England — Evin Lewis fell to the opening delivery, a sharp late swinger that screamed English craftsmanship. Mark Wood returned to end Charles’ promising start with a slower ball that clattered into the stumps off the inside edge. Those two scalps weren’t just wickets—they were momentum killers.

Wood’s 2/25 in four overs, in a game that saw almost 400 runs scored, was worth its weight in gold dust. That early pressure saw West Indies continually have to build and start again, and England took that energy into their chase.

Bowling Without Bite and Fielding Without Fire

When you are defending 197, you need venom. West Indies brought a feather. All the bowlers—except Akeal Hosein—had no containment whatsoever. Shepherd went for 42 in three overs, Joseph was tonked for 45. Even Holder, the more experienced campaigner, saw too much disappear to the fence. And while Gudakesh Motie showed potential, none of the bowlers ever decided to step up and bowl those nasty wicket-taking overs that enraged batsmen. And in the field, it was a repeat performance.

Charles dropped Buttler on 43—eventually got him, but too late. There was no urgency in the circle, no urgency out in the field, and not even one exhilarating moment to put West Indies on the front foot. And when England’s lower-middle order began to hit out—Bethell’s 26 from 10, Banton going 18 through 12 deliveries—it was too late.

West Indies lost a match they could have defended. With a competitive total and firepower to spare, they just didn’t come up with the goods when it mattered. On this occasion, it was England that held its nerve, swung the ball in those tight five overs, and chased the total with purpose. Should the Windies bounce back in this series, they will require more than just power. They will require precise, detailed plans and further refinement. At the moment, England is just jamming on their dance floor while the West Indies seem a few beats off!

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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