West Indies Dominate England to Seal 2-1 Series Victory in Third ODI

England’s struggles in the Caribbean continued as they were comprehensively beaten by the West Indies in the third ODI at Kensington Oval, losing the series 2-1. The hosts chased down England’s total of 263-8 with ease, reaching 267-2 with over eight overs to spare. Keacy Carty’s brilliant 128 not out and Brandon King’s 102 anchored the West Indies’ victory in a partnership of 209 runs that sealed the series triumph.

For England, this defeat marked a disappointing conclusion to their tour, which saw them lose a series in the Caribbean for the fifth time in less than three years. The conditions in Barbados were challenging, with the pitch initially slow before the floodlights came on and the dew settled, making batting much easier in the second innings. Despite these difficulties, England’s captain Liam Livingstone noted that their failure to post a competitive total was the primary issue, and even if they had made 350, he felt it wouldn’t have been enough against a team playing so well.

The match began poorly for England, who were reduced to 24-4 within the first ten overs of the game. Will Jacks, Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, and Livingstone all fell in the powerplay, with Jacks and Livingstone edging behind, Bethell caught at backward point, and Cox dismissed by a lifting delivery from Alzarri Joseph. Cox, on debut, had a tough series, scoring just 17, 4, and 1 in his three innings.

However, in a situation of crisis, Phil Salt stepped up with a crucial knock. Salt, who had been criticized for his strike rate in earlier matches, played a mature innings of 74 off 108 balls. His patient knock, alongside valuable contributions from Sam Curran (40) and Dan Mousley (57), allowed England to recover to a competitive total. The shift in momentum came with an injury to West Indies fast bowler Romario Shepherd. In the 42nd over, Shepherd was forced off the field with cramps, and the West Indies had to turn to part-time bowler Sherfane Rutherford to complete the rest of the innings. Rutherford was hammered for 57 runs off his remaining 3.5 overs, with Jofra Archer hitting three sixes in his quickfire 38 off 17 balls.

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Despite these late blows, the West Indies responded emphatically. England’s bowlers, particularly Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, struggled to make an impact. Archer, who had been a key figure for England in the past, took just one wicket across three matches, while Rashid’s spin bowling was ineffective, finishing the series with only three wickets and an economy rate of over six runs per over.

West Indies openers, Evin Lewis and Brandon King, started their chase steadily. Lewis was dismissed for 12, caught off a short ball from Jamie Overton, but the rest of the chase was dominated by King and Carty. Carty, who made history in 2022 as the first player from Sint Maarten to represent the West Indies, played the best innings of his career, registering his first international century. King, who was also under pressure for his spot in the team, responded with a century of his own, with both players playing calmly under pressure to guide their team to victory.

For England, the series raised several concerns, particularly the form of their key bowlers. Archer and Rashid were unable to find any rhythm or threaten the West Indies’ batsmen. With the West Indies dominating both the bat and ball, England will need to regroup before their next series, focusing on improving their bowling and developing more depth in their squad.

The West Indies, on the other hand, will be pleased with their performance. Carty’s century was a standout moment, marking his arrival as a major talent in the team. King’s consistency also bodes well for the West Indies, while the team’s overall performance reflected a well-balanced side with both bat and ball firing in all the right moments. This victory further establishes the West Indies as a force in the ODI format, having once again triumphed over England in their own backyard.

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Despite the loss, England will take some solace in the fact that their young players like Salt, Curran, and Mousley showed glimpses of promise, with Salt in particular proving that he can adapt his game to the demands of ODI cricket. But the series ultimately highlighted the need for greater consistency and tactical awareness, with their batting line-up struggling under pressure and their bowlers failing to contain the West Indies’ top-order.

The West Indies’ win will be remembered not just for their dominant performance in the third ODI, but also for their resilience throughout the series, showcasing a blend of youthful energy and experienced leadership to seal yet another series win over England in the Caribbean.