Rain Puts Brakes on West Indies Surge in Series Finale
The fifth and last T20I between England and West Indies promised a thrilling finish, with West Indies getting off to a flying start. But cricket fans and players saw the momentum washed away by sudden torrents over the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia. Only five overs were possible, but those brief moments gave supporters a glimpse of the explosive strokeplay that fills stadium seats.
Openers Evin Lewis and Shai Hope were aggressive right from the first ball. Lewis hammered two sixes and three boundaries, racing to 29 not out off just 15 balls. Hope kept the pressure on with a brisk 14 off 10 deliveries. The duo’s confidence seemed to echo back to their run chase in the previous match, where they impressively hunted down 219 runs. Their power hitting had ignited hopes of a series-closing statement, but the sky had other plans.
The weather’s intervention meant there was no chance to see if West Indies could pull off another big win against the visiting side. As the rain poured and ground staff scrambled protectively over the wicket, the series result was frozen in time. England, already ahead 3-1, officially clinched the trophy, but there was a sense of unfinished business on the part of the hosts.
England’s Consistency and the Toss Factor
For England, this result cemented their resurgence in the T20 format. Skipper Jos Buttler couldn't hide his satisfaction, praising his team’s ability to win tough moments and build what he said was a "winning habit." The English side showed both firepower with the bat and discipline with the ball—especially in the first stretch of the series when they locked up three straight victories and secured the series without needing a fifth contest to decide it. With Buttler, Phil Salt, and Reece Topley among others firing at the right times, England's confidence as a unit was plain to see.
West Indies found bright spots, too—a dominant chase in the fourth match kept their competitive spirit alive and gave fans plenty to cheer. Skipper Rovman Powell pointed out, though, that his team simply didn’t sustain their best cricket for long enough. "We played good cricket in patches," Powell admitted, referencing those golden moments when the Caribbean flair was too much for England to handle. But with England not letting up, short bursts just weren’t enough.
This series also brought the toss into the spotlight. Teams winning the toss, especially in St Lucia, routinely finished on top, making the coin flip almost as important as the first delivery. Whether chasing or setting a target, conditions seemed to swing with whoever had the luck at the start.
So, the series ends not with a big on-field celebration or a nail-biting finish, but with covers across the outfield and players shaking hands under umbrellas. England, backed by consistency and the right moments of fortune, leave the Caribbean with the series win—and a reminder for both teams that sometimes, the real opponent is the weather.