England win despite poor batting display.

Stephen Parry shined on debut but the England
batsmen faltered once again.

England responded from their loss on Friday with a three-wicket win against the West Indies, but it was anything but glamorous as the England batsmen once again left something to be desired.

Stephen Parry excelled on his England debut, claiming 3-32 and the total of 160 should have been simple for England, but the loss of five wickets for 26 runs meant that the game could have gone either way.

West Indies had narrowly won the first match after a belligerent end to their innings, but no such destruction was present in the second ODI, as the visitors constricted the flow of runs after winning the toss and electing to bowl.

The top-scorer for West Indies, Lendl Simmons (70), had scored a fifty in the previous fixture and, after hitting Parry for six, appeared to be going strong, but the next ball saw his dismissal, as he attempted to replicate the previous ball.

Spin proved to be decisive today and it gave England a strong start, helping the visitors to reduce the opposition to 30-3 in the ninth over.

Joe Root (2-15) and Moeen Ali (1-11) gave England the edge early on, but after Friday’s match, England were cautious of a response from West Indies more experienced players.

A fifty partnership between Simmons and Darren Bravo (13), allowed the hosts back into the game, but the latter was cleanly bowled by England captain, Stuart Broad, reducing the West Indies to 81-4.

Another half-century stand, this time between Darren’s older half-brother, Dwayne (20), and Simmons eliminated the prospect of a humiliating defeat for the hosts, but Bravo’s dismissal was contentious to say the least.

England wicketkeeper, Jos Buttler, claimed the stumping off James Tredwell     (2-39), after the third umpire decided that the Lancashire keeper had control of the ball whilst removing the bails, much to the disgust of the batsman and coach, Otis Gibson.

After this, the West Indies collapsed, losing six wickets for 26 runs as they were bowled out for 159.

Debutant Parry lead the way with the key wickets of Simmons and Darren Sammy (3), who had made 61 from 36 balls in the previous fixture.

England’s chase did not get off to the greatest start, with Ali and Luke Wright removed in quick succession, reducing the visitors to 30-2.

Another low score for the latter will raise questions, whilst Ali’s low score comes after an impressive debut, where the Worcestershire all-rounder scored 44.

With a surplus of time in hand to knock-off the remainder of runs, Michael Lumb, who scored a century on his England ODI debut on Friday and Joe Root steadied the innings well, with a partnership worth 49.

However, a flurry of wickets turned the game on its head and a familiar sight for England fans was unfolding once more as three wickets fell in the space of just six balls.

Lumb was trapped LBW by Nikita Miller for 39, which led to the dismissal of his partner, Root, who was caught and bowled by Bravo for 23.

With two fresh batsmen at the crease the last thing England needed was to lose another wicket, but Buttler’s first ball duck ensured that England were reduced to 81-5.

Further chaos ensued as Ben Stokes (4) was caught behind, after the Durham all-rounder walked, despite not being given out by the on-field umpire, as England lost four wickets for ten runs.

Ravi Bopara and Tim Bresnan added 16 more to the total, but the latter was superbly run out by Dwayne Bravo for 10 and at 101-7 the game was firmly in the hands of the hosts.

Broad (28*) came to the crease and was given out caught behind, but successfully reviewed the decision and set about turning the game back in England’s favour.

After being dropped on four, he managed to eventually assert a commanding position alongside the experienced Bopara (38*), as England limped their way over the line in unconvincing fashion.

A fifty partnership for the eighth-wicket ensured that England crawled their way to the meager total of 160 and, in leveling the series; the final match on Wednesday will decide which team will win the series.