England Clinch T20 Series 3-0 Against West Indies with Record-Breaking Start
In the third T20 International against West Indies, England’s opening pair Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith delivered a stunning performance, breaking a 16-year-old T20 record set by West Indies legends Chris Gayle and Andre Fletcher.
Duckett and Smith Create T20 History
Batting first, Duckett and Smith opened with a fiery partnership, adding 120 runs in just 8.5 overs. This stand became the fastest 100-run opening partnership in T20 International history, surpassing the previous record set by Gayle and Fletcher in 2009 against Australia.
Not only did they break the speed record, but their run rate exceeded 13 per over, making them the first pair ever to achieve a 100-run stand at such a pace in T20Is. Until now, only three opening pairs had achieved 100-run partnerships at a strike rate above 10.
England Posts Mammoth Total
Powered by Jamie Smith’s 60 runs and Ben Duckett’s explosive 80, England posted a massive 248/3 in their 20 overs. The West Indies bowlers struggled to contain the aggressive batting display from the English openers.
West Indies Fall Short in Chase
In response, the West Indies could only manage 211/8, falling 37 runs short. Despite a valiant unbeaten 79 from Rovman Powell, the chase proved too steep. For England, Luke Wood shone with 3 wickets, while Adil Rashid picked up 2.
England Sweep Series 3-0
With this win, England completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 series, showcasing dominance both with the bat and ball. The record-breaking opening stand by Duckett and Smith was the highlight of the match and could set a new standard for aggressive starts in T20 cricket.
