England defeated the West Indies six wickets to level the series after Sam Curran recovered with a match-winning bowling performance.
In the second One Day International of the series, England defeated the West Indies six wickets to tie the series on Wednesday in Antigua. Sam Curran responded with a match-winning bowling performance. The worst-ever performance by an England bowler in One-Day International cricket, Curran was hammered for 98 runs from 9.5 overs on Sunday as England lost the series by four wickets. However, in the day/night match on Wednesday, the left arm seam and wing bowler came up big, taking three of the first four wickets as the host team was bowled out for 202 off 39.4 overs.
The England captain, Jos Buttler, made a welcome comeback to form, leading his team to victory with an undefeated 58 in an uninterrupted fifth-wicket partnership of 90 with Harry Brook (43 not out). Will Jacks then spearheaded the English response at the top of the order with 73.
Following his Man-of-the-Match performance at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Curran commented, “It was tough the other day but just have to keep moving forward and try to bounce back.”
With the help of Gus Atkinson and Curran’s early burst, the West Indies were reduced to 23 for 4.
But it would have been a total surrender by the hosts if not for a 129-run combination between captain Shai Hope (68) and Sherfane Rutherford (63).
Following his quick addition of another wicket to complete with three, spinner Liam Livingston grabbed the limelight by dismissing Rutherford and Hope.
Rehan Ahmed, a front-line spinner, and Atkinson split the wicket total of two each.
The fact that the West Indies’ innings ended with ten of the fifty overs that were supposed to be used up as players tried to surpass one another in the extravagance of their strokeplay speaks volumes about the carelessness with which they played at the crease.
In response, England’s opening pair of Jacks and Phil Salt raced to fifty by the sixth over. On a field that provided significant support for the spinners, Gudakesh Motie, however, claimed two victims; with 116 for 4, the tourists had some work ahead of them.
Buttler and Brook allayed such fears, though, as the skipper of England became the fifth Englishman to surpass 5,000 runs in ODIs with his first half-century in 15 innings.
“I’ve been searching a bit for some form so it was great to spend some time in the middle,” According to Buttler.
“I was really getting fed up with the way things were going so it’s pleasing to get back to something like the player I know I am.”
According to Hope, the home team failed to rise to the early challenge.
We put ourselves into a serious hole since we didn’t handle the situation well. We now need to prepare for this decisive match.”
Prior to the sides switching to a five-match T20 International series, Hope will be present at his home field of Kensington Oval in Barbados for the final on Saturday.
