England edge past Windies by one run in a nail-biting encounter

England managed to hold onto their nerve in a thrilling encounter against West Indies in the second T20 International at Kensington Oval to level the series with three games to spare. 

The number one ranked team in the shortest format of the game edged past the Windies by a solitary run in a high scoring clash. Despite dominating most part of the game, England found themselves on the receiving end of a record 72-run stand for the ninth wicket between Akeal Hosein and Romario Shephard in pursuit of 172 runs. 

England fans, you can breathe now!

West Indies fall one run short in what would have gone down as one of the greatest T20I run chases of all time!

The five-match #WIvENG series is level 1-1! pic.twitter.com/AXzJ1ZUAyz

— ICC (@ICC) January 23, 2022

The duo took the attack to England's bowling unit and smashed 72 runs in the last five overs to help the Windies inch closer to the target. Despite their valiant effort in the back end of the innings, England somehow managed to get over the line.  

In pursuit of 172 runs, West Indies were tottering at 98 for the loss of eight wickets, with Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid wreaking havoc. The duo weaved their magic in the middle overs to dismantle the Windies batting unit and returned with combined figures of five for 48 runs in their eight overs. 

While most people expected England to cruise to a win, Hosein and Shepherd had other ideas as the duo smashed some massive blows all around the park to get the equation down to 30 off the final over. While the southpaw hit 28 runs off the last six deliveries, including three sixes and two boundaries bowled by Saqib Mahmood, the home team fell short by one run in this run chase. 

Earlier in the day, England managed to register a total of 171 runs in the first innings courtesy of a 61-run partnership for the third wicket between Moeen Ali and Jason Roy. The duo steadied the innings by accumulating the ones and the twos to keep the scoreboard ticking before the right-handed batter was dismissed for a well compiled 45 off 31 deliveries. 

England lost a flurry of wickets in the middle overs after the dismissal of Roy on a sluggish wicket. However, a 27-run cameo from Chris Jordon studded with two boundaries, and one six powered them to 171 runs.

After a close win in the series, England will need to work on their death bowling when they set foot on Wednesday for the third match.