England defeat West Indies to secure series win.

England conquered the West Indies by 25 runs to secure a 2-1 win in their ODI series after losing the first match in Antigua.

Impressive performances from Joe Root (107) and Jos Buttler (99), who added 175 runs in their fifth-wicket partnership, helped England to set a colossal target of 304, one which proved to be too much for the hosts.

West Indies battled against the odds, with Dinesh Ramdin (128) scoring the first century by a West-Indian wicket keeper in ODI history, but their poor start with the bat cost them dearly.

Michael Lumb was the first batsman to depart for 20, after he flashed at a wide delivery from Dwayne Bravo and Ben Stokes was out for a first ball duck, Putting England on the back-foot at 37-2.

Ali made his first International
half-century as England reached 303-6.

After a rough patch, Moeen Ali (55) aided Root, allowing England to recover with a partnership worth 78, as the Worcestershire opener reached his first International half-century.

Spin played a big part in this ODI series and the efforts of Nikita Miller earned the West Indies an opportunity back into the match after Ali played the ball back to the bowler.

One bowler who England are yet to figure out, Sunil Narine, continued to give the batsmen a headache, removing Eoin Morgan for just one, shortly after the dismissal of Ali.

Now 116-4, England were in danger of posting a nominal score and, with the series level, they could not afford to give the West Indies batsmen the opportunity to win the series.

Thankfully the efforts of Root and Buttler guaranteed that England would post a respectable score as the pair accumulated England's second-highest stand for the fifth-wicket in ODI history.

Narine had received VIP treatment from the majority of his allocation, but his penultimate over afforded 21 runs as Buttler twice cleared the rope on his way to what would have been his maiden century.

Root’s innings was one of substance and style, as he successfully reached his maiden ODI century in 112 balls, after suffering an injury to his thumb in the early stages of his innings.

The Yorkshire all-rounder had successfully ensured that Dwayne Bravo would not claim a hat trick, but the West Indies captain would eventually get his man, claiming 3-60.

Buttler was unable to join his batting partner, after a leading edge skied the ball back to bowler, Ravi Rampaul, but his innings, containing 7 fours and 4 sixes ensured that the hosts would have to fight hard if they wanted to win the series.

West Indies were reduced to 43-4 after 20 overs, a score that left a monolithic task for the rest of the West Indies batsmen.

Captain Stuart Broad led from the front with two early wickets, including that of Lendl Simmons (16), who had made fifties in the first and second match.

Root added to his success with the bat, claiming the first wicket of Kieran Powell, and Dwayne Smith’s careless shot off Broad was plucked out of the air by Ali on the boundary, as the West Indies stumbled to 10-2.

Ali then struck in his first over, claiming the wicket of Darren Bravo for 16, as Ravi Bopara took a smart catch at short mid-wicket.

Marlon Samuels failed to provide the innings required of him on his return to the squad, falling to Stephen Parry for 23 as he edged behind to Buttler.

At 80-5, the hosts were in dire need of a substantial contribution and Ramdin stepped up to the plate, playing with aggression as he attempted to erode a daunting target.

Help from Dwayne Bravo (27) and Darren Sammy (24), meant that England’s position was not as comfortable as it had once been and fear of a dramatic comeback began to arise.

Ramdin in particular was making the England camp fearful and his innings, containing a total of seventeen boundaries, gave the West Indies a fighting chance.

The crucial blow came when Tim Bresnan (3-45) claimed the wicket of Sammy, exposing the tail-order, who failed to support Ramdin’s pursuit.

Miller and Narine attempted to relieve some of the pressure, but both batsmen were removed for 10, with Bresnan claiming the final wicket of Ramdin, whose valiant innings proved to be in vain.

After a horrendous winter, the England camp will not only be pleased by a series win, but also by consecutive wins, a rare feat for this England squad of late.

England’s attention will turn immediately to their two T20 internationals in Bridgetown as they hope to extend their newfound success.