England thrash West Indies to seal 3-0 series win
BBC Online :
England romped to a 3-0 series clean sweep over West Indies with a seven-wicket victory in the third One Day International at The Oval on Tuesday.
Chasing 246 in 40 overs after rain, Jamie Smith crashed 64 from just 28 balls – his first ODI half-century – as England reached 100 after just eight overs.
That was the joint-fourth quickest any men’s side has reached three figures in the format and they were able to complete their chase with 10.2 overs to spare with Ben Duckett hitting 58 and Joe Root 44.
Smith’s assault quickly eradicated fears England would be punished for letting a good position slip in allowing West Indies to post 251-9 in their rain-interrupted 40 overs.
In an innings split in two by a 90-minute rain delay, Gudakesh Motie’s 63 at number eight rescued an innings that was floundering at 154-7 despite Sherfane Rutherford’s 70.
But Adil Rashid took 3-40 and, despite the bowling lacking accuracy throughout, England secured their first ODI series win since before their white-ball downturn began at the 2023 World Cup.
New captain Harry Brook will look to continue his perfect start in charge in the three-match T20 series which starts in Chester-le-Street on Friday.
Brook has been charged with reinvigorating England’s white-ball fortunes after a third poor major tournament in a row led to Jos Buttler’s resignation, and could hardly have had a better start.
The clean sweep is their first since one in the Netherlands in 2022 and one of the biggest decisions of his tenure so far – the promotion of Smith to open – appears to be paying off.
Smith showed glimpses in making 37 in the first ODI and with more effortless shot-making on his home ground showed why, despite the 24-year-old having never opened the batting in professional cricket, England have given him this role.
His first runs came off the inside edge but afterwards he cleanly struck another nine fours and three sixes as he targeted the leg side without resorting to slogs.
Having raced to 44 in 22 deliveries, he was dropped at mid-wicket by Justin Greaves and lifted Gudakesh Motie for six over long-on to reach fifty.
In the rest of the over he swept a four, rocked back to hit Motie for six again over mid-wicket and was bowled by the left-arm spinner but Smith had taken any jeopardy from the chase.
Duckett, also dropped on 15 in a lacklustre effort by West Indies, allowed his new opening partner to take the leading role in their opening stand of 93 and was eventually caught by Roston Chase.
The only surprise was that Root top-edged a catch to fine leg off Alzarri Joseph as he eased towards the winning line but, perhaps fittingly, that left captains new and old – Brook and Buttler – to secure victory, Buttler doing so with a huge six.