Duckett and Smith star as England complete T20I series whitewash

Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith starred with the bat as England beat the West Indies by 37 runs to complete their T20I whitewash in the third and final match at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton.

Duckett (84 off 46) and Smith (60 off 26) shared a 120-run opening partnership as England posted 248-3 after being inserted to bat.

The West Indies bowlers particularly struggled against Duckett, who scooped, reverse-swept and drove all around the ground, hitting the fourth fastest T20I half-century by an Englishman, but he was undone by a brilliant yorker from Akeal Hosein (1-42).

In reply, England reduced the tourists to 70-4 after Adil Rashid (2-30) struck with his first ball, and Luke Wood (3-31) took a three-for, with Liam Dawson (1-34), and Jacob Bethell (1-32) all chipping in to hold the tourists to 211-8.

Rovman Powell (79no) brought up his ninth T20I half-century while Shai Hope added 45 as West Indies made the most of the batting-friendly track, but England’s in-form bowlers made regular breakthroughs to complete the clean sweep comprehensively.

Thunderous Duckett and Smith help England to big total

Smith – dropped on 58 by Shimron Hetmyer – brought up his maiden T20I fifty with a huge six that landed on the Sky Sports commentary pod as he powered England to 120-0 before he fell to a slower ball from Gudakesh Motie (1-44).

But with Jos Buttler (22) in to bat next, England weren’t showing any signs of slowing down as he brought England to 135-1 – their best T20I score after 10 overs.

Rutherford managed to briefly put the brakes on the hosts when England’s former white-ball captain clubbed a slower ball to Hetmyer in the deep.

However, Harry Brook (35no) and Jacob Bethell (36no) shared an unbeaten stand worth 70 runs to help their side to 248-3, with the latter hitting three consecutive sixes off Motie.

Brook’s side missed out on their highest T20I score of 267-3 by just 19 runs, which also came against the West Indies in 2023.

Powell’s 79 in vain as West Indies sink again

Evin Lewis (9), who was dismissed by Wood’s first ball in Bristol, got his revenge as he clubbed the left-arm pacer for six to get the West Indies off to a perfect start.

But it didn’t last long, though, after fellow opener Johnson Charles (9) chipped Wood straight to Smith at midwicket.

Dawson, cheered on by his home crowd, struck with his second ball dismissing Lewis, who skied to Duckett at deep mid-wicket.

Shimron Hetmyer (26) made a powerful start, smashing Wood for back-to-back sixes in the sixth over, but became Bethell’s one and only scalp after he holed out to long-on.

Rashid recovered his 31-run over in Bristol and struck with his first ball to dismiss Sherfane Rutherford (1) cheaply, while Carse earned the prized scalp of Hope, who nicked behind to Buttler.

Brook took a great diving catch at extra cover to see the back of Romario Shepherd (0) for a duck, and Wood earned his three-for by having Motie (1) caught at long-on.

West Indies required 61 runs from the final over, and despite the losing cause, Powell clattered Carse for three consecutive fours and one six to ensure his side made it to the end without being bowled out.

Brook pleased with England depth

England captain Harry Brook speaking to Sky Sports:

“Very pleased, the lads have put a really good shift in. To top off the series like we have tonight is really pleasing.

“I like the depth in the batting, it gives the lads at the top permission to go out there and get us off to a flier like they did today.”

Hope: No complete game in series

West Indies captain Shai Hope speaking to Sky Sports:

“We haven’t really put a complete game together in this series. We just need to find ways to do it. We need to keep chipping away and try to get as good as we can.

“At the end of the day, you need to find ways to score and maximise the deliveries. The key to me is to limit as many dot balls as possible.

“In the Caribbean, we have a lot of power-hitters. If we can marry the two together and try to rotate the strike when it’s a bit difficult, it will help.

“As a West Indies batting group, we need to find ways to score more consistently moving forward.”

What’s next?

Watch Australia vs South Africa in the World Test Championship final – live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket from 10am.

England Men’s Test summer continues with a five-match series against India at home, starting on Friday June 20 at Headingley, live on Sky Sports.

England vs India Test series

All games at 11am UK and Ireland; all live on Sky Sports

• First Test: Friday June 20-Tuesday June 24 – Headingley
• Second Test: Wednesday July 2-Sunday July 6 – Edgbaston
• Third Test: Thursday July 10-Monday July 14 – Lord’s
• Fourth Test: Wednesday July 23-Sunday July 27 – Old Trafford
• Fifth Test: Thursday July 31-Monday August 4 – The Kia Oval

England vs West Indies white-ball fixtures

All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports

One-day international series (May-June)

• First ODI, Edgbaston: England won by 238 runs
• Second ODI, Cardiff: England won by three wickets
• Third ODI, The Oval: England won by seven wickets

T20 international series (June)

• First T20I, Chester-le-Street: England won by 21 runs
• Second T20I, Bristol: England won by four wickets
• Third T20I: Southampton: England won by 37 runs