WEST INDIES TAKE THE LEAD IN CG UNITED SERIES AGAINST RIVALS ENGLAND.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua– A magnificent bowling performance from Gudakesh Motie, backed up by a stellar innings with the bat from Evin Lewis ensured the West Indies took a one nil lead in the three match CG UNITED ODI series against England on Thursday.
The hosts crushed rivals England by eight wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Motie spun a web around the English batters with 4 for 41, to skittle out the visitors for 209 in 45.1 overs after captain Shai Hope elected to bowl first in overcast conditions.
Jayden Seales had the ball rolling early for the home team with the dismissals of openers Phil Salt and Will Jacks who both were caught trying to hit over the top.
Matthew Forde followed up Seales’ exploits with wickets in consecutive overs to dismiss Jordan Cox and Barbados born Jacob Bethell and leave the visitors tottering at 93 for 4 in the 21st over.
Seales picked up 2 for 22 and Forde 2 for 48.
From there, it was the Gudakesh Motie show as the left arm spinner ran through the middle order of England.
Motie provided the critical breakthrough to disrupt a 72 run fifth wicket stand between captain Liam Livingstone who top scored with 48 and Sam Curran 37.
Curran fell to Motie as well after grabbing the wickets of Dan Mousley for 8 and Jamie Overton for a first ball duck at 187 for 8.
Hometown boy Alzarri Joseph then mopped up the innings to roll aside England for 209 and finished with 2 for 46.
The home team’s response was delayed for more than an hour after heavy evening rainfall but that did not deter Evin Lewis and Brandon King from laying a solid foundation.
Lewis was the aggressor from the outset as he launched three sixes in the powerplay as the Caribbean men eased to 49 without loss.
King with a few crisp boundaries helped to gather momentum as the hosts motored to 81 without loss in 15 overs before a second rain break forced the players off the field.
The break lasted over an hour and meant the game was reduced to 35 overs per side with the West Indies requiring 157 to win.
76 from 120 balls saw a shift in tempo and momentum, Lewis and King stepped on the accelerator to register a century stand.
Unfortunately, it ended at 118 when King was caught on the boundary for 30 but by this time, Lewis brought up his 11th ODI half century and in the process 2000 runs in the format.
The left hander then went on a brutal demonstration of boundary hitting as he moved from 50 into the 90s within 23 balls.
He hammered five fours and eight towering sixes and on the cusp of consecutive centuries in the format, he fell to Adil Rashid on the long off boundary for a well struck 94 from 69 balls.
Only 13 runs remained and Keacy Carty 19 and captain Shai Hope 6 waltzed the team over the line for a crushing eight wicket win at 157 for 2 with 55 balls remaining under the Duckworth Lewis System.
Lewis who played his first game in the format at home for over three years was happy to carry over the form from the Sri Lanka series.
“I was pretty confident after that century in Sri Lanka, and it gave me more confidence as I came into this series, and its important that I keep scoring runs.”
Lewis added that there was a strategic plan in setting up the match winning effort of 94 from 69 balls.
“I think with the new ball I told Brandon King that once we see it off it will be easier as we go deeper into the innings, and I just tried to be positive and bat as deep as possible”
West Indies vs England ODI Series Schedule
1st CG UNITED ODI: 31 October 2024- Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
West Indies won by 8 wickets
2nd CG UNITED ODI: 2 November 2024- Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
3rd CG UNITED ODI: 6 November 2024- Kensington Oval Barbados
West Indies vs England T20I Series Schedule:
1st T20 International: 9 November 2024- Kensington Oval, Barbados.
2nd T20 International: 10 November 2024- Kensington Oval, Barbados
3rd T20 International: 14 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, St Lucia
4th T20 International: 16 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, St Lucia
5th T20 International: 17 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, St Lucia
– CWI [https://www.windiescricket.com/news/]
