England lose ODI series as West Indies chase reduced target

Sign as much as our free sport publication for all the most recent information on the whole lot from biking to boxing

Sign as much as our free sport e mail for all the most recent information

England battled arduous, however their first ODI series because the World Cup debacle led to defeat after the West Indies pinched a nail-biting decider in Barbados.

Chasing a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern adjusted target of 188 in 34 overs after a number of rain interruptions, the Windies lurched from 99 for 2 to 135 for six following Will Jacks’ unlikely three wicket-haul.

But after Jacks and Rehan Ahmed have been bowled out, leaving the Windies requiring 33 off the final 4 overs, Romario Shepherd greeted returning fast Gus Atkinson with back-to-back sixes to show the tide.

Atkinson leaked 24 from the over and Shepherd ushered the Windies to a four-wicket win, with 14 balls to spare, with a belligerent 41 not out off 28 balls alongside debutant Matthew Forde (13no).

Forde earlier took three for 29 as England stumbled to 49 for 5, with captain Jos Buttler out for a golden duck after an ill-judged hook at Alzarri Joseph took a high edge and ballooned to the nice leg fielder.

Ben Duckett’s stylish 71 off 73 balls, placing on 88 with Liam Livingstone (45), dug England out of a gap and was the spine of their 206 for 9 in 40 overs, with the decrease order including some grit.

A 2-1 loss of their first project is hardly the beginning Buttler and head coach Matthew Mott would have wished on this reset post-World Cup, however a top-order collapse left them with a mountain to climb after they have been requested to bat first when play belatedly obtained underneath method following a two-hour rain delay.

England’s openers had made 4 successive partnerships of fifty or extra, however have been separated within the first over as Phil Salt’s lame chip nearly carried to Joseph.

Forde’s day obtained higher when Zak Crawley formed to depart however the ball reared up off a size, thudded into his glove and looped into the slips.

The rookie’s solely misstep occurred with a misfield on the boundary after Duckett’s meaty pull, giving the left-hander the primary of three fours in an over however Forde atoned in his subsequent over, hitting a nagging size and discovering a little bit of form to take the sting of Jacks.

Matters deteriorated even additional within the tenth over for England as Joseph’s direct hit ran out a diving Harry Brook whereas Buttler’s rush of blood to his first supply left them 5 down.

England have endured some epic collapses within the Caribbean down the years and this briefly threatened to be added to an ignominious listing, however Duckett and Livingstone stabilised the vacationers.

Duckett was particularly spectacular, robust on his favoured cuts and pulls off the again foot however he eschewed his customary sweeps to the spinners till he had adjusted to an unpredictable pitch.

After going previous 50, the left-hander then Livingstone upped the ante, every hammering sixes off Joseph however each perished once they have been too early on balls holding up within the pitch. Duckett obtained a vanguard to quick midwicket whereas in Shepherd’s subsequent over, Livingstone miscued to mid-on.

After a 45-minute rain delay which led to England’s innings being reduced from 43 to 40 overs, last-wicket duo Atkinson and Matthew Potts obtained them above 200 with an unbroken stand of 35 off 29 balls.

Another downpour took extra overs out of the sport and meant a revised target, with England making a breakthrough after eight deliveries when Brandon King punched Atkinson to Jacks on the ring.

While Sam Curran discovered lavish motion and Potts, in for the unwell Brydon Carse, was tidy, there have been no additional inroads as Buttler turned to Ahmed within the ninth over. The leg-spinner was greeted with a glancing reduce by Alick Athanaze earlier than ending his over being pushed for one more 4 by Carty.

Ahmed clipped Athanaze’s off-stump with out dislodging the bails, tricking England right into a evaluation for caught behind, earlier than Atkinson returned to pin the left-handed opener lbw 5 wanting his 50.

After Shai Hope tamely chipped Ahmed’s googly to midwicket, Buttler opted for spin at each ends on an more and more carrying pitch the place prodigious flip was on supply.

Jacks capitalised as Shimron Hetmyer lobbed to level whereas Sherfane Rutherford holed out. Carty, who had dropped two easy catches when the Windies fielded, made a vital 50 however gave Jacks a return catch.

Jacks drew the sting of Shepherd two balls later however the ball whistled away for 4 whereas the Windies big-hitter threw his fingers at Ahmed to alleviate a few of the constructing strain.

Buttler opted to show to Atkinson after Ahmed and Jacks bowed out however the paceman delivered two full tosses which have been dispatched over the rope, the primary following a fumble by Livingstone.

There was no getting back from that for England and Shepherd sealed victory in Livingstone’s subsequent over with a slog sweep for 4.