Harry Brook reckoned the key to equalling the record for most runs scored in the final over of a successful Twenty20 international chase was poise not power.
England required 21 from the final six deliveries of a pivotal high-scoring third match of the series against West Indies in Grenada, but was so dominant against the bowling of Andre Russell that he only required five of them, ensuring Phil Salt’s unbeaten hundred was also a winning one.
‘I was trying to stay as cool as possible and relaxed, because as soon as I get tensed up that’s when I lose my shape and I don’t quite hit the ball as cleanly,’ said the 24-year-old Yorkshireman.
‘I am just trying to be free flowing, let my bat do the talking, and I was waiting for the slower ball, looking straight the whole time, so thankfully he missed a couple of times and I took the opportunity.’
Brook walked to the crease with 37 runs required from 13, crunching his first ball for six and then taking a single before finding himself on strike for the business end of a contest England had to win to retain hopes of salvaging something from this challenging limited-overs tour.
Harry Brook stated that it was important for England to remain composed against West Indies
England ensured that Phil Salt’s unbeaten hundred against West Indies was a winning one
His efforts of clipping the first ball off his pads for four, then following up with consecutive sixes, flayed over extra cover and flicked off his hip, reduced the tourists’ equation to five off three and, after scrambling a two, he carved his fourth six and England’s 18th of the innings behind square on the off-side.
Only once before has a team needed as many as 21 in the 40th over of a T20 international and won – Australia pulling off a Glenn Maxwell-inspired heist versus India last month.
It was the most thrilling of endings to a pursuit of 223, building on a brilliant opening stand of 115 between centurion Salt and captain Jos Buttler, and pulling the scoreline back to 2-1 as the two sides travelled to Trinidad on Sunday.
The first two games had featured first-innings totals in the 170s, but raising the stakes to 11 runs an over forced England into more of an aerial game in a series that has now featured an incredible 75 sixes.
‘You’ve got so much clarity chasing a big score like that, you know you’ve got to get out the blocks quickly and thankfully those lads set us up beautifully to chase that score,’ Brook said.
‘And after the second game, we spoke about trying to play with personality, going out there and showing what we can do.’
Buttler provided the perfect start to the second innings by connecting with two straight blows in Akeal Hosein’s opening over, taking his career tally of sixes to 120, and placing him level alongside Eoin Morgan as England’s most prolific in Twenty20s.
Salt was the pacesetter though, getting to three figures off 51 balls. Despite his heroic efforts, however, it appeared the Windies were about to take an unassailable 3-0 lead when, needing 29 from nine, he cleared the rope for the ninth time.
Salt was the pacesetter and Brook also contributed as England managed to prevail
Jos Buttler provided a fine start to the second innings by connecting with two straight blows
Previously outmuscled, England’s response of fighting fire with fire was pleasing, adapting to the less than subtle game that will be required to put up a decent defence of their world title next June.
‘We’re obviously a fair way away from the World Cup yet, but these two games coming up can make a big difference, getting the experience of playing on these pitches,’ Brook said.
The final week of this tour will also provide England’s best player of this past 12 months a chance to further experiment with his off spin bowling – something he wants to transfer from the nets to the middle in next summer’s Hundred competition.
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