The West Indies stumbled on the way to defend their World Cup T20 title when they lost the third and final T20 against England by five runs in a thrilling encounter at Kensington Oval, yesterday.
The result meant the host failed to complete the three-match sweep and had to be contented with a 2-1 victory.
The visitors had Bajan born Chris Jordan to thank for their heroics. Just last year he was playing at the same venue for Barbados but yesterday Jordan battled manfully to inspire the English victory.
Just when it seemed England's chase would be a stroll in the park for the West Indies, Jordan slapped four sixes off the final over bowled by Dwayne Bravo, to take England to a competitive 165 for six off their 20 overs. He then returned with the ball to grab three wickets and also held a brilliant catch to dismiss Bravo, in a man of the match performance.
With 17 runs needed off the final over, West Indies skipper Darren Sammy could not repeat his heroics of the previous game and West Indies could manage just 11 runs.
Sammy finished unbeaten with 15 off six balls after the chase was set up by Lendl Simmons.
West Indies lost early wickets in their reply and it took a partnership of 73 runs for the sixth wicket from Simmons and Denesh Ramdin to bring the local team back into the match.
Simmons was run out in the final over for 69 0ff 55 balls with seven fours and two sixes. Ramdin was dismissed just before him for 33 off 21 deliveries with four fours and a six.
Earlier, the English started and ended brilliantly, thanks mainly to Michael Lumb with 63 and Jordan 27 not out.
Lumb and Alec Hales gave the innings a frenetic start, blasting 98 in style before Jamaican soldier Sheldon Cottrell dismissed Lumb. He faced 40 balls striking nine fours and two sixes.
Lumb's dismissal in the 11th over allowed the West Indies to creep back into the contest.
Cottrell also accounted for Hales for 38 off 31 balls inclusive of four fours and a six.
The Windies strangled England in mid innings as they allowed only 40 runs off seven overs.
The tourists looked as if they were going to fall below 150, but Jordan proved the difference between the teams hitting Bravo's final over for 26 runs.
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SCOREBOARD
WI vs England
England Inns
M Lumb c Bravo b Cottrell 63
A Hales c Simmons b Cottrell 38
E Morgan c Smith b Narine 18
J Butler c Sammy b Santokie 3
R Bopara not out 6
B Stokes b Santokie 0
M Ali run out 3
C Jordan not out 27
Extras w7 7
Total 6 wkts (20ovs) 165
Fall of wkts: 98, 112, 123, 128, 129, 138.
Bowling: K Santokie 4-0-27-2, S Cottrell 4-0-37-2, S Narine 4-0-34-1, D Bravo 3-0-35-0, A Russell 1-0-11-0, D Sammy 2-0-14-0, M Samuels 2-0-7-0.
WI inns
D Smith b Dernbach 0
J Charles c&b Jordan 4
M Samuels b Jordan 15
L Simmons run out 69
D Bravo c Jordan b Bopara 16
A Russell c Morgan b Bopara 0
D Ramdin b Jordan 33
D Sammy not out 15
S Narine not out 0
Extras b1, lb4, w3 8
Total for 7 wkts (20) 160
Fall of wkts: 0, 4, 28, 66, 67, 140, 153.
Bowling: J Dernbach 4-1-38-1, C Jordan 4-0-39-3, S Parry 4-0-32-0, J Tredwell 4-0-18-0, R Bopara 4-0-28-2.
Result: England won by 5 runs.
West Indies win series 2-1.
Man of the match: Chris Jordan.
Player of series: Darren Sammy