In the first ODI of the three-match series, West Indies stormed to an eight-wicket victory over England under the DLS method at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.
West Indies restricts England for 209
Put in to bat first, England faced steady early losses and were bowled out for 209 in 45.1 overs. West Indies bowlers kept the pressure on from the outset, with Gudakesh Motie leading the charge. Motie’s left-arm spin dismantled England’s batting lineup, as he claimed a remarkable 4 wickets for 41 runs in his 10 overs. His breakthroughs were complemented by impressive pace bowling from Jayden Seales and Alzarri Joseph, each grabbing two wickets. Seales was particularly economical, conceding only 22 runs in his 8 overs, while Joseph’s aggressive spell yielded 2 wickets for 46 runs. Matthew Forde, bowling with consistent accuracy, claimed two scalps for 48 runs.
Despite some promising starts, England’s batsmen struggled to convert into big scores. Philip Salt (18), Will Jacks (19) and Jordan Cox (17) all looked in control but failed to capitalize. England’s innings was propped up by Liam Livingstone, who top-scored with 48 off 49 balls, including three fours and two sixes, providing a much-needed boost in the middle order. Sam Curran added 37 off 56 balls, helping push the total above 200. The Three Lions lost wickets at regular intervals, leaving West Indies a manageable target.
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Evin Lewis and Brandon King gave West Indies a solid start
The West Indies innings started on a positive note, with opener Brandon King providing a stable start, scoring 30 off 56 deliveries. However, it was Evin Lewis who stole the show, launching a blistering assault on the England bowlers. Lewis smashed an aggressive 94 off just 69 balls, including five fours and an astonishing eight sixes. His knock kept the scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace and brought West Indies within sight of victory. Keacy Carty supported Lewis with an unbeaten 19 off 20 balls, and Shai Hope added an unbeaten 6 as West Indies reached 157/2 in 25.5 overs before the rain arrived.
England’s bowling attack, led by Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, struggled to make breakthroughs. Rashid managed a solitary wicket, conceding 50 runs in his 7 overs, while Liam Livingstone took one wicket for 32 runs. England’s bowlers were unable to stem the flow of runs as West Indies cruised towards victory.
Player of the Match
Gudakesh Motie was awarded Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance, which set the stage for West Indies’ win. The second ODI is scheduled for Saturday, November 2, at the same venue, where England will look to bounce back and level the series.