West Indies chase down 219 to beat England by 5 wickets in 4th T20

GROS ISLET, St. Lucia (AP) — Shai Hope and Evin Lewis made half centuries in a rapid 136-run opening stand as the West Indies completed a record run chase to beat England by five wickets Saturday in the fourth Twenty20 international.

Hope made 54 from 24 balls and Lewis made 68 from 31 balls, with seven sixes and four fours, in a partnership which lasted only 9.1 overs but enabled the West Indies to reach a winning target of 219.

The West Indies' confident start was shaken when Lewis, Hope and Nicholas Pooran fell to consecutive balls in the 10th over. But captain Roston Chase put the innings back on track with 38 from 23 balls and Sherfane Rutherford competed the chase with successive sixes and an over to spare.

There were 32 sixes in the match, 16 from each team.

“We had to assess the conditions. That's one thing we struggled with in the first three games in the power play," Hope said. “We've been losing some early wickets so the main thing was to try and understand what was the best remedy, to understand the conditions and come out of the power play on top.”

England already had won the five-match series after winning the first three matches by eight wickets, seven wickets and three wickets respectively. Every match in the series and in the previous three-match one-day series has been won by the team winning the toss.

After being sent in, Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell who both have deep roots in the Caribbean made swift half centuries as England made 218-5 to equal the highest first innings total at the Darren Sammy Stadium.

Bethell who was born and raised in Barbados made an unbeaten 62 from 32 balls while Salt who was born in Wales but raised in Barbados made 55 from 35 balls at the top of the order.

Will Jacks (25), Jos Buttler (38) and Sam Curran (24) also contributed to England's innings of 218-5.

The West Indies made a speedy start in pursuit of that total. Hope reached his half century from 23 balls, the West Indies were 69-0 after the power play and their hundred came up in only 7.3 overs.

Lewis was more watchful than Hope at first but when he began to hit out it was with enormous power. He reached his half century from 26 balls and the longest of his sixes traveled 105 meters.

The century partnership between Hope and Lewis came from only 45 balls and they had looked impregnable until Lewis played an awkward shot to a ball from Rehan Ahmed which he skewed to Dan Mousley.

Hope was run out next ball for the second time in consecutive matches and Pooran was bowled first ball as the West Indies slumped to 136-3.

Powell restored some of the early momentum with his 38 before falling lbw to John Turner in his T20 debut. The West Indies needed 21 from the the last three overs with five wickets in hand, then 15 from two.

After edging towards the target in singles, Rutherford finally found the middle and blasted consecutive sixes from Mousely to clinch the win.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England's Rehan Ahmed bowls against West Indies during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's captain Jos Buttler, left, talks to Sam Curran during the fourth T20 cricket match against West Indies at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Phil Salt plays a shot for four runs from the bowling of West Indies' Akeal Hosein during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Phil Salt plays a shot for six runs against West Indies during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Jacob Bethell hits a third six in a row from the bowling of West Indies' Roston Chase during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Phil Salt acknowledges scoring half a century against West Indies during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Will Jacks plays a shot from the bowling of West Indies' Obed McCoy during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Jacob Bethell plays a shot for six runs from the bowling of West Indies' Gudakesh Motie during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Jordan Cox celebrates with teammate Sam Curran his third six in a row from the bowling of West Indies' Roston Chase during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Jacob Bethell hits a third six in a row from the bowling of West Indies' Roston Chase during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

West Indies' Evin Lewis plays a shot against England during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Rehan Ahmed celebrates with wicket keeper Phil Salt the dismissal of West Indies' Nicholas Pooran during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

West Indies' Shai Hope plays a shot from a delivery of England's Sam Curran during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

West Indies' Shai Hope, right, and Evin Lewis celebrate scoring a hundred runs during their partnership against England at the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

West Indies' captain Rovman Powell eyes the ball after hitting for six runs against England during the fourth T20 cricket match at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Shedeur Sanders overcame a shaky start to throw three touchdown passes, LaJohntay Wester returned a punt 76 yards for a score and No. 18 Colorado pulled away late to beat Utah 49-24 on Saturday.

Winners of four straight, the Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 17 CFP ) remain in the driver's seat for an appearance in the conference title game and possibly a spot in the College Football Playoff. They've doubled their win total from a season ago when they finished 4-8.

“We haven't even put it all together yet. We haven't played our best game," coach Deion Sanders said. “That should be, in itself, scary. When I said, ‘We comin',’ we still comin'. We never stopped comin'. We are comin'. We ain't nearly there yet."

Sanders threw an interception on his first pass of the game and later lost a fumble. But he settled in and finished 30 of 41 for 340 yards. He connected twice on TD passes with Will Sheppard. Sanders has thrown 27 TD passes, one away from matching the single-season school record set by Sefo Liufau in 2014.

Leading 35-16 early in the fourth quarter, the Buffaloes saw the Utes stage a late rally to make things interesting down the stretch. The comeback was thwarted by D.J. McKinney's interception and then a sack from Shilo Sanders that resulted in a fumble that Colorado recovered.

“I'm thankful for the defense,” Shedeur Sanders said. “I may have to take them out to dinner this week for saving me, for saving the team."

Two-way star and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter stood out in his glittery gold cleats — and with an incredible 28-yard catch between two Utah defenders on fourth-and-8. He also had a 5-yard score with 2:22 remaining on a reverse to seal the win.

On defense, Hunter picked off a pass but also was beaten by receiver Dorian Singer for a 40-yard score. It's the first TD pass given up by Hunter this season.

In the eyes of Deion Sanders, Hunter is the clear Heisman frontrunner.

“It’s supposed to go to the best college football player. I think that’s been a wrap since Week 2,” said Sanders, whose program snapped a seven-game skid against Utah. “We got a wonderful display of cameras here, and I think we’re on national television every week."

The Utes (4-6, 1-6) dropped their sixth straight game behind an offense that sputtered early. They were limited to three field goals by Cole Becker before Isaac Wilson connected with Singer. Wilson later hit Caleb Lohner — and converted a two-point conversion — to make it 35-24 with 8:34 remaining.

“Right now, I'm in the ‘Twilight Zone,’” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “It’s the most difficult year of my coaching career, hands down. Not even close.”

Among the guests for Fox's “Big Noon Kickoff” was Peggy Coppom, the Buffaloes' super-fan who turns 100 on Tuesday. The crowd of 54,646 — fourth-largest in school history — sang her happy birthday in the fourth quarter.

Utah: At 4-6, the Utes' streak of 10 straight winning seasons is in jeopardy. “Keep moving forward,” tight end Carsen Ryan said, “trying to make a bowl game.”

Colorado: The ground game found some traction. Isaiah Augustave had a 37-yard TD run, the longest rush for a score by a Colorado player since 2018. Tailback Charlie Offerdahl also scored his first career TD in the fourth quarter.

The Buffaloes haven’t been ranked better than 18th in the AP poll since the 2016 season.

Utah: Host Iowa State next Saturday.

Colorado: At Kansas next Saturday.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter, top center, flies in for a touchdown past, from left, Utah linebacker Johnathan Hall, cornerback Smith Snowden and safety Nate Ritchie in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado wide receiver Will Sheppard, left, pulls in a touchdown pass over Utah cornerback Cameron Calhoun in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)