West Indies thrash England to win ODI series

BRIDGETOWN: The West Indies won the three match ODI series against England 2-1 on Wednesday, behind a strong bowling performance, and an even stronger batting show.

A valiant effort from England opener Phil Salt which saw him score 74 runs off 108 deliveries, as well as some much-needed support courtesy of Dan Mousley’s half century later in the line-up, would end up being in vain.

ENGLAND’S INNINGS

An early flurry of wickets put England in a precarious situation from the get go. Will Jacks fell in the third over after only managing to score five runs. On the tenth delivery he faced, Matthew Forde found the slightest of edges before the ball ended up in West Indies wicket-keeper, Shai Hope’s gloves.

Ghazanfar takes six as Afghanistan win first ODI

Jordan Cox would fall for only one run in similar fashion, but this time it was a delivery from Alzarri Joseph that found the edge of the bat before settling into Hope’s gloves. Jacob Bethell would do even worse, being sent off for a duck on the third ball he faced, on a delivery from Romario Shepherd. It was the first ball Shepherd bowled and it was a devastating blow to England. At first glace Bethell seemed to get enough behind his shot to clear backward point, however Roston Chase took an incredible leaping catch.

England skipper Liam Livingstone was sent off in the 10^th over, as Shepherd picked up his second wicket on a delivery that deflected off the bat of Livingstone and towards Hope who did the rest. Despite a great innings from Phil Salt, who was eventually dismissed by Forde in the 41^st over, and a strong showing from Dan Mousley, who Joseph sent off in the 47^th over, England was only able to make 263 runs.

WEST INDIES’ INNINGS

It only took four men to get West Indies to the target, which two of them doing the brunt of the work. Brandon King made his 3^rd ever century in his ODI career, scoring 102 runs off 117 deliveries. He blasted an incredible 13 fours and one six on his way. King was eventually bowled by Reece Topley in the 41^st over, but it offered little reprieve for England, as the West Indies were only 13 runs away from winning at that point.

Srikkanth: Rohit may quit tests if India fail in Australia

Keacy Carty scored the highest total for the West Indies with 128 runs off 114 deliveries. He hit 15 fours and two sixes during his innings, and stayed on the pitch till the end of the match. Two balls after tying the score, he blasted his final four to bring West Indies total to 267.

Evan Lewis and West Indies skipper Shai Hope also helped, scoring 19 and 5 runs respectively.