The West Indies Cricket Team showed their fighting spirit as they registered their first One-day series win over England after a gap of 16 years. They achieved this feat during the deciding match played at Bridgetown, Barbados on 9th December 2023.
Due to rain, the match was reduced to 40 overs a side. West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and decided to field first. Matthew Forde made his ODI debut by getting rid of Phil Salt in the very first over. Forde then got rid of Zak Crawley with a peach of delivery to leave England struggling. Ben Duckett showed intent in putting pressure on the Indies bowlers. At the end of 8 overs, England scored 45 for 2.
Soon after field restrictions, Forde struck again to get rid of Jacks to leave England in trouble. Jacks and Duckett added 37 runs for the 3rd wicket. Harry Brook was brilliantly run out by Joseph while England captain Jos Buttler was dismissed without opening his account. Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone rescued the England innings showing intent taking singles and hitting boundaries to put pressure back on West Indies bowling.
Duckett completed fifty off 56 deliveries providing resistance along with Livingstone. Romario Shepherd struck to dismiss Duckett with an easy catch to King. Duckett and Livingstone added 88 runs for the 6th wicket. England kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but Gus Atkinson and Matthew Potts provided a late flourish putting on unbeaten 35 runs for the 10th wicket. At the end of 40 overs, England scored 206 for 9.
The revised target for West Indies was 188 in 34 overs due to rain. It was not an ideal start as Brandon King was dismissed cheaply by Atkinson caught by Jacks. Carty and Alick Athanaze steadied the ship for West Indies as scored 45 runs in the first 7 overs.
Both batters kept the scoreboard ticking not allowing them to settle. Athanze’s impressive innings ended dismissed by Atkinson. Athanze and Carty added 76 runs for the 2nd wicket. West Indies kept losing wickets, but Carty looked impressive reaching fifty off 56 deliveries before being dismissed to leave the hosts in trouble.
Romario Shepherd looked in fine touch with some lovely, brilliant shots while Matthew Forde also gave good support to the all-rounder. Shephard took the attack to Atkinson taking him for 24 runs in one over changing momentum in favour of West Indies. Shephard and Forde put on unbeaten 56 runs for the 7th wicket. West Indies won the match by 4 wickets with 14 balls to spare via DLS method.
The debutant Matthew Forde had an impressive debut with 13 unbeaten runs and picked 3 for 29 to help West Indies register a historic series win.
West Indies First Series ODI Victory In 16 Years
The West Indies Created team registered their first-ever ODI series win in 16 years. They achieved this feat when they toured England in 2007 July. England won the first match by 79 runs at Lords, London before West Indies stormed back with victories in Birmingham and Trent Bridge, Nottingham to win their first-ever ODI series win over England.
It was also a historic moment for West Indies cricket as they registered their first ODI series win in West Indies after 1998. The previous time these two teams met on West Indies soil was in 2019 when the series was shared at 2-2 with one match being abandoned due to rain.
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