WI vs ENG, 1st T20I |  Andre Russell's All-Round Show Helps West Indies Take 1-0 Lead

Andre Russell claimed three wickets on T20I comeback for WI [X.com]

Brief Scores | England: 171 All-Out (19.3 overs) [Phil Salt: 40 (20), Jos Buttler: 39 (31); Andre Russell 3/19 (4), Alzarri Joseph 3/54 (3.3)] lost to West Indies: 172-6 (18.1 overs) [Shai Hope: 36 (30), Kyle Mayers: 35 (21); Rehan Ahmed 3/39 (4), Adil Rashid 2/25 (4)] by four wickets

After clinching the One-Day Internationals 2-1, West Indies continued their victorious march against England in the T20Is winning the first T20I at Barbados in the three-match series. 

Andre Russell's 3 for 19 restricts England to 171 

Having opted to bowl first, West Indies suffered the wrath of England openers Phil Salt and captain Jos Buttler, who notched up a 50-run stand within five overs.

Salt looked in good touch scoring 20-ball 40, before comeback man Andre Russell nabbed his wicket. Will Jacks scored 17 off nine and perished soon as Alzarri Joseph claimed his first.

Buttler, who scored a rather slow 39 off 31, fell at a crucial juncture, handing his wicket to Akeal Hosein. In-form Harry Brook failed to perform, scoring just 1, as West Indies started to make in-roads into the England line-up.

However, all-rounder Liam Livingstone stood his ground and provided some lusty blows, making a 19-ball 27 before Russell cleaned up the former.

Joseph cleaned up the tail as England folded for 171. Russell and Joseph claimed three wickets apiece. 

All-round batting performance helps West Indies take 1-0 lead

In reply, both Windies openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers scored quickly and provided the home side a swift start. King fell for 22 off Chris Woakes, while Mayers became Adil Rashid's 99th T20I victim.*

Captain Shai Hope, again, held one end of the fort as wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer continued their poor from ODIs. Interestingly, Hetmyer became Rashid's 100th T20I wicket, who is playing his 100th 20-overs international for England.  

Rain interrupted play for a while, as West Indies needed 64 off 44 but were ahead on DLS.

Play resumed without any loss of overs as after a few boundaries, Hope lost his wicket off leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed for a well-made 36. Ahmed has Romario Shepherd's scalp on the very next ball, clinching the third wicket of the match.

Hard-hitter all-rounder Russell joined Powell in the middle with the Windies still needing 47 of 30. The duo wasted no time and launched an aerial attack on the England bowlers, bringing the required run-rate to 5, with West Indies needing 15 off the last three overs.

Making a return after 2021, Russell displayed his devastating best, scoring all the remaining runs for West Indies, and knocking off a memorable win for the home-side, their highest at Kensington Oval in T20Is.

Both Russell, and Powell remained unbeaten on 29*  and 31*, respectively as the hosts won the match by four wickets and gained an 1-0 series lead.

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