In a stunning display of power-hitting and disciplined bowling, the West Indies cruised to an eight-wicket victory over England in the first ODI of their series in Antigua. Evin Lewis led the charge with an explosive 94 runs, propelling the hosts to a commanding win while Gudakesh Motie’s impressive four-wicket haul dismantled the English batting lineup.
Lewis, who had recently returned to the ODI fold after a three-year hiatus, showcased his formidable talent by smashing eight sixes in his 94 runs off just 69 balls. His performance was a stark contrast to England’s timid innings, which saw them struggle to a total of 209 runs. Lewis’s innings not only marked a personal milestone—his 2000th ODI run—but also set the tone for West Indies’ aggressive chase.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, England faltered early. The top order collapsed under pressure, with no batsman managing to score over 27 runs. Stand-in captain Liam Livingstone provided some resistance with a score of 48, but the rest of the batting lineup crumbled against Motie’s incisive bowling, as he claimed key wickets at crucial moments.
The West Indies bowlers, particularly Motie and Jayden Seales, exploited the conditions effectively. Seales struck twice in his opening spell, while Motie’s spell proved pivotal in breaking the backbone of England’s batting. By the time the English innings concluded, they were left reflecting on a performance reminiscent of their disappointing run at the 2023 World Cup.
The rain that threatened to disrupt the West Indies’ chase arrived after just 15 overs, but with the team already at 81 for no loss, it ultimately served only to delay the inevitable. Once the skies cleared, Lewis resumed his onslaught, and alongside Brandon King, built a solid partnership that laid the foundation for victory.
King contributed a cautious 30 runs from 56 balls, but it was Lewis who commanded the spotlight, as he frequently cleared the ropes with ease. The pair put on a brisk opening stand of 118 runs before King fell to a catch at deep square leg.
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Keacy Carty and Shai Hope then saw the team home comfortably, finishing the match with 9.1 overs to spare. The win marks a resounding start to the series for the West Indies, while England will have much to ponder as they seek to rebuild their ODI squad ahead of future challenges.
As the teams prepare for the next encounter, the West Indies will be buoyed by their performance, while England’s inexperienced lineup must regroup to face a formidable opponent that clearly demonstrated their class on home soil.
Scorecard: 1st ODI – West Indies vs England
England Innings: 209 (45.1 overs)
– Liam Livingstone: 48
– Sam Curran: 37
– Jacob Bethell: 18
– Will Jacks: 19
Bowling:
– Gudakesh Motie: 4 wickets for 41 runs
– Jayden Seales: 2 wickets for 22 runs
West Indies Innings: 157 for 2 (25.5 overs)
– Evin Lewis: 94
– Brandon King: 30
– Keacy Carty: 19
Bowling:
– Liam Livingstone: 1 wicket for 32 runs
– Adil Rashid: 1 wicket for 50 runs
Result: West Indies won by 8 wickets (DLS method).
