BROOKLYN, NY – All-rounder Jason Holder became the first West Indies bowler to capture a hat-trick in Twenty20 Internationals and only the fourth player of all time to grab four wickets in as many deliveries, as the hosts trounced England by 17 runs in the decisive fifth match here Sunday.
With England requiring 20 runs from the final over in pursuit of 180 at Kensington Oval, 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 spare and hand West Indies a precious 3-2 series win.
Holder, whose two previous overs went for 25 runs, started with a no-ball but kept Barbados-born Chris Jordan scoreless from the following 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.
For good measure, Holder bowled Saqib Mahmood off the inside edge with a total length delivery to finish with five for 27 as West Indies clinched only their second multi-game series win over England.
Predictably, Holder was voted Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the-Series and said the performance was redemption for a below-par game in the fourth T20 International 24 hours earlier.
“A classic finish. It probably wasn’t the best of starts for myself but me, I always try to stay in the game, and you never know how this game can go,” said the 30-year-old.
“Last night was a topsy-turvy [game] for me as well, starting well but not being able to finish, but it’s the total opposite today, not starting well but being able to close the game out.”
Holder was supported by a 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).
Hosein returned for his second over in the 12th to engineer a slide that saw wickets tumble for 33 runs in 31 balls. 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 final over.
“It’s wonderful. I thank the Almighty for giving us this victory but having said, I think every single one in that dressing room, we rallied together throughout everything,” said captain Kieron Pollard, who was confronted with media reports of disunity in the squad ahead of the game.
“Every time we won a game, there was something negative against us, but we came out today, and the guys rallied so well; well done to every single one of them and all the supporters who supported us.”
Pollard had earlier top-scored with an unbeaten 41 off 25 balls as West Indies, opting for the first knock, posted 179 for four off their 20 overs.
West Indies were going nowhere at 113 for four at the end of the 16th over before Pollard combined with Rovman Powell, who belted a 17-ball 35 not out with four and four sixes, to plunder 66 from the last four overs in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand worth 74.
Opener Brandon King chimed in with 34 off 31 balls with two fours and two sixes, laying the foundation for the innings in a 59-run, second-wicket partnership with left-hander Kyle Mayers whose 31 came from 19 deliveries with three fours and two sixes.
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