The series was tied, the team’s confidence was boosted, and a crisis was avoided. After England felt like they had won most of the first game against West Indies, they were shocked by a sudden comeback. However, in this match, they gave it their all and dominated from start to finish, winning by six wickets. As they head to Barbados for the final one-day international on Saturday, the team is in good spirits – not just because they will soon have better access to golf courses.

Jos Buttler expressed interest in going on a chase today, following their unprecedented ninth consecutive successful coin toss. However, their bowlers were so successful that they only had half of a chance to do so.

The home team’s final score of 202 runs with only 10 overs remaining was significantly lower than expected. Despite a strong start, the English team managed to easily surpass this total with 103 balls remaining, thanks to half-century performances from both Buttler and Will Jacks.

After 10 overs West Indies were 41 for four; after five England were 44 without loss and Jacks had just pummelled two fours and a six off a single Alzarri Joseph over. The first of those, to be fair, he knew little about, a snorter that caressed the bat and cleared the wicketkeeper, the third time either Jacks or Phil Salt had managed to just evade a fielder behind the stumps and get a boundary for their pains.

But the opening partnership was broken with precisely 50 on the board, Salt bowled by Romario Shepherd for 21, and both Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett made only three before falling to Gudakesh Motie’s off-spin. When Jacks was trapped lbw to become Sherfane Rutherford’s first ODI wicket, having scored 73 off 72, England were 116 for four and at risk of losing their iron grip on the game.

This was a good opportunity for Buttler to remember how to hit the ball, and with Harry Brook by his side and less than three runs needed per over, England’s captain confidently delivered.

After playing 14 innings without reaching a half-century, he finally achieved the feat by hitting Oshane Thomas for a six. This was his first half-century since before the World Cup and he also hit three other boundaries in the same over. The scores were tied at the end of the over, and Brook was left to complete the task.

Gus Atkinson and Sam Curran began the day by swiftly taking down the opposition’s top players. Within seven overs, four wickets were lost and only 23 runs had been scored, putting the home team in a precarious position that typically leads to defeat. Curran, who had a tough time in the previous match on Sunday, was responsible for three of the wickets – two caught at slip and Shimron Hetmyer out lbw without scoring. The umpire initially dismissed the appeal, but after England decided to review, it was determined through DRS that the ball would have hit leg stump. This led to England abandoning their celebration, thinking their cause was hopeless, until the DRS decision changed the outcome.

Atkinson was successful in making an early breakthrough with a well-placed delivery that confused Alick Athanaze, resulting in a slight touch with the glove as it passed through. His control was evident during his first spell, as shown by the fact that when Shai Hope hit the first ball of his fourth over for a boundary, it was only the second run he had given up.

During the initial game of the series, Rutherford hit his first delivery in an ODI match for a six. However, the following game presented a different challenge that required a more restrained approach. Rutherford adapted accordingly and when he eventually broke free, he hit Rehan Ahmed over midwicket for a six, reaching his half-century. His teammate, Hope, who had already achieved a match-winning century on Sunday, had already surpassed this milestone. After starting at a score of 23 for four, the West Indies team reached 152 without any additional loss.

At which point it all fell apart. Rutherford, Yannic Cariah and Hope were dispatched in the space of three Liam Livingstone overs, Ahmed dealt with Shepherd and Motie.

Joseph returned the ball to Atkinson, ending the innings for West Indies. During this time, they lost six wickets, scoring exactly 60 runs. England strategically prevented a harsh display of their bowling in the final overs by not having to bowl at all.

Source: theguardian.com