England taste T20I victory despite late West Indies scare

In spite of a slow surface, Jason Roy's middle-over flurry set up a total of 171/8, which was almost chased down by a scarcely-believable ninth-wicket partnership between Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd.

Needing 15 an over from the last five overs, the pair combined for 72 runs, of which 28 were scored in the final over.

Hosein moved from 18 (10) to 44 (16) in the final over bowled by Saqib Mahmood, hitting sixes off the final three deliveries. Shepherd at the other end finished unbeaten on 44 (28).

Spurts of runs were a theme of the evening in Barbados, with the English pair of Jason Roy and Moeen Ali making a middle-over acceleration for the tourists earlier.

Roy moved from 17 not out from 23 balls to 41 off 29 in England's 11th over, building a platform for his teammates, who helped in compiling 107 runs in the second half of the innings.

Moeen accompanied Roy for the most fruitful period in England's innings, putting on a partnership of 61 from 38 balls. The left-hander (31 from 24 balls) hit four boundaries of his own, before Chris Jordan, promoted to No.7, struck a crucial 27 (15).

Eoin Morgan was unable to push on at the death, though Jordan picked up from where he left off after his cameo of 28 (23) in the first match, hitting two fours and a six.

Reece Topley quelled any prospects of a strong West Indies response early, dismissing Brandon King in the first over before producing an inspired piece of fielding to run out Shai Hope in his next over.

Nicholas Pooran (24) and Darren Bravo (23) seemingly strengthened the hosts' chances, though the pair were two of five players to fall in a 26-ball collapse of just 18 runs in the middle overs.

Fabian Allen met Shepherd in the middle for a 33-run partnership, and as the former fell for 12 (11), all hopes of the home side taking a 2-0 series lead seemed lost.

Shepherd and Hosein had other ideas though, and despite a start of just 13 runs off their first 11 balls together, threw everything at their opposition.

Needing 61 off the final three overs, the pair struck three sixes between them off the 18th over bowled by Jordan, with the third, hit by Shepherd, leaving the ground.

Reece Topley would go on to concede just eight in the 19th over, though nerves kicked in for England when Mahmood's first ball of the 20th was ruled a wide.

Hosein went on to hit two fours down the ground, and while 21 off the final three balls should have brought a calm to Mahmood and his side, a fourth-ball wide made for interesting viewing.

Mahmood went on to bowl three legal deliveries to ensure victory, though Hosein's sixes off all three meant England only won by a solitary run.