North Sound, Antigua – Enigmatic West Indies produced an underwhelming performance to go under by six wickets to England in the second One-Day International here Wednesday, leaving Saturday’s finale in Barbados as the all-important series decider.
Four days after chasing down 326 to pull off a shock win in the opener at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, West Indies could only muster 202 all out in the 40th over, after being asked to bat first in the day/night contest at the same venue.
Captain Shai Hope followed up his unbeaten hundred with a top score of 68 at a run-a-ball while left-hander Sherfane Rutherford stroked a responsible 63 off 80 deliveries, to post his maiden ODI fifty in his second game.
Left-arm seamer Sam Curran, who leaked 98 runs in the opener, returned with three for 33 to wreck the top order in an incisive new-ball spell and earn Man-of-the-Match honours while off-spinner Liam Livingtone (3-39) also chipped in with three wickets, West Indies plunging to 23 for four in the seventh over before recovering.
In reply, England survived a minor stumble to comfortably chase down their target in the 33rd over, captain Jos Buttler returning to form with an unbeaten 58 off 45 deliveries and starring in an unbroken 90-run, fifth wicket partnership with Harry Brook who made 43 not out off 49 balls.
Summaries scores:
West Indies 202 all out off 39.4 overs (Shai Hope 68, Sherfane Rutherford 63; Sam Curran 3-33, Liam Livingstone 3-39, Gus Atkinson 2-28, Rehan Ahmed 2-40). England 206 for four off 32.5 overs (Will Jacks 73, Jos Buttler 58 not out, Harry Brook 43 not out; Gudakesh Motie 2-34). England won by six wickets. (CMC)