Jos Buttler and his team's horror campaign in ODI cricket continues as they succumb against a side that failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup. England started the multi-format tour with a defeat and ended the series with a defeat. On the other hand, West Indies created history as they got their first ODI series win in the Caribbean against England after 25 long years.
In the first match, the home side won by four wickets after they pull off an epic chase on the back of captain Shai Hope's sensational hundred. The visitors managed to level the series with a 6-wicket win in the second ODI in Antigua. However, Windies bounced back in the series decider as they crushed the 2019 world champions by 4 wickets via DLS method.
After being asked to bat first, England managed to post 206-9 in 40 overs. They lost half of the side, including their skipper, inside 10 overs and smelled some serious danger. However, a half-century from Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone's 56-ball 45 brought them back into the game. The duo put on an 80-plus partnership for the sixth wicket. Matthew Forde was the pick of the bowlers as he took 3 wickets by conceding just 29 runs. Alzarri Joseph (3/61) and Romario Shepherd (2/50) also shone.
Romario Shepherd's superb knock win it for Windies
In reply, West Indies lost opener Brandon King early on, but Alick Athanaze (45 off 51) and Keacy Carty (50 off 58) put them in the driver's seat. However, Will Jacks brought England into the game with a three-fer. It was Romario Shepherd who played a brilliant innings to win it for his team. Forde, who won the Player of the Match, did not panic in the end, and gave the support to Shepherd to cross the finish line in 31.4 overs.
The win will definitely boost the morale of the Windies team after the two-time ODI World Cup champions failed to qualify for the premier tournament for the first time earlier this year. Their next target is to clinch the five-match T20I series starting on Tuesday, December 12. With the T20 World Cup 2024 coming up in June, that too in the West Indies, we can see some fierce action from them.
Here's how fans reacted to West Indies winning the series:
England search for their ODI glory continues. WI are the winner in Barbados 🔥🔥 Congratulations 🎉🎉👏👏
— Cricket Chronicle 🏏🏏 (@cricchronicle1) December 10, 2023
A strong WI cricket team is the need for world cricket. They are punching back again. Hope they become what they were.
— Rathin Dutta 𝕏 (@IamRathinDutta) December 10, 2023
They should have played odi worldcup 2023 instead of England
— Manikanda prasath (@atmanmpkr) December 10, 2023
England horror continued under Jos Butler captaincy pic.twitter.com/3rQQ8fkKh2
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) December 10, 2023
What happened to English cricket , they are loosing against WI who failed to qualify for odi world cup 😭
— Knight Rider 💜💛 (@savagestranger3) December 10, 2023
Celebrating West Indies' triumph after such a long wait!
— Faheem Siddiqi (@engr_siddiqi) December 10, 2023
Abhi England ka Afghanistan se series ho jaaye maza aaajayega😅
— Bolo Yaarrrr (@ShaRo45264) December 10, 2023
Finally A Series win To Boost their Moral High
— Ajay Gautam (@gautam_ajay007) December 10, 2023
Congratulations🎉🎉🎉 West Indies
England Team se Jeet gaye he wow
— Kamran Abbasi🇵🇰 (@Kamran_045) December 10, 2023
England Team matlb ab Farigh team ha
Wellplayed pic.twitter.com/cY6sLbAcAK