West Indies vs England Prediction: England leveled the series at 2-2

West Indies and England are going head to head in the 5th Match of T20 Series at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago on 21 Dec 2023. England came back strongly from 2-0 to level up the series at 2-2. Who will win this game of cricket?

The men from the Caribbean were filled with confidence after their victory over England in the previous ODI series and their two-nil lead in the T20I games. However, they have now faced back-to-back defeats, shifting from a comfortable position to a must-win situation.

Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell have been the leading run-scorers for the home team in this series, with Pooran accumulating 139 runs and Powell scoring 124. Despite a promising start, opener Brandon King's performance has declined with scores of eight and zero.

Alzarri Joseph and Andre Russell are the top wicket-takers for the Windies in this series, with six and five wickets respectively. Joseph, who recently joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, will be eager to prove his worth in this match. Russell has been performing impressively in his first T20I series in two years.

In order to win this match, the Windies will need to find a way to effectively counter England's aggressive batting. The opposition's openers, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, have been dominant recently, with the rest of their middle order following suit.

Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Shai Hope, Rovman Powell (C), Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph

England have rebounded impressively after their disappointing early exit from the 2023 Cricket World Cup and ODI series defeat to the West Indies, winning back-to-back matches in the ongoing T20I series. However, their task is not yet complete, as they face a crucial decider in Tarouba. The player Salt has been exceptional in recent matches, scoring unbeaten centuries in both St George's and Tarouba. Achieving consecutive centuries in a T20I match is a rare feat. Despite his success, Salt has not secured a deal in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This match is another opportunity for him to impress and potentially secure a contract. Salt has outperformed any other England batter in this series, scoring nearly double the number of runs. While Buttler, Liam Livingstone, and Harry Brook have provided support, their contributions will be crucial for England to secure a series victory. England has found success with wrist spin in the Caribbean, with Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed leading the team in wickets with six and five, respectively. Dry conditions have favoured these spinners, allowing for extra bounce and turn.

Jos Buttler (C/WK), Philip Salt, Will Jacks, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson, Tymal Mills, Reece Topley

The upcoming match will once again be held at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. This venue has a limited history in T20I matches, having previously hosted three games. Interestingly, in all three instances, the team batting first emerged as the victor. In the fourth T20I held here recently, the West Indies won the toss but chose to bowl, resulting in their loss.

The previous three first innings in T20I matches at this ground scored totals of 149, 190, and 267, all of which proved to be winning scores. It remains to be seen whether the same pitch will be used for the final T20I or if a fresh one will be prepared. Additionally, both teams are likely to include two specialist spinners in their lineups. Rain is once again predicted on matchday in Tarouba, though this should not affect the length of the fixture, as it did not have an impact on the fourth T20I.

England has gained considerable momentum with their recent consecutive T20I victories, while the West Indies' motivation seems to have suffered. Considering the strong performances of Salt, Buttler, Ahmed, and Rashid individually as well as collectively, it is likely that England will emerge victorious in this match. They are currently favoured to win the series-deciding game, while the West Indies are considered underdogs.