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England beat West Indies by 186 runs to secure series whitewash

10 March 2017

Hales and Root combined for a 192-run second-wicket partnership to power England to a first innings total of 328, before the England bowlers decimated West Indies' batting line-up, dismissing them for 142 to set up a 186-run victory. 

Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes were the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-27 and 3-16 respectively. Steven Finn also chipped in with two wickets, with Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid taking a wicket each to complete the set.

On his return to the side from injury, Hales produced a sublime knock of 110 runs from just 107 balls. The opener picked up where he left off at the end of last summer, racking up nine fours and five sixes in a commanding innings that pulsated with powerful hits and clever shot selection.

He paced his innings perfectly, reaching his fifth ODI century with a top-edged six in the 35th over.ales was eventually dismissed attempting a slog off young paceman Alzarri Joseph, toe ending the ball straight to Ashley Nurse at fine leg and departing to a well-earned standing ovation.

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Root was the ideal support to Hales’ lead, joining him at the crease in the sixth over after Jason Roy miscued straight to the mid-off fielder for 17. The pair’s second-wicket partnership was not to be broken until the 37th over, by which time it had reached 192 runs and the damage had been done.

Root’s carefully crafted 101 started slowly as the England Test captain survived two early dropped chances before kicking on. Fresh from his match-winning innings in Antigua, Root impressed once more with a series of beautifully timed and superbly placed shots.

The Yorkshireman reached his ninth ODI century in the 43rd over to the delight of the many travelling England fans in the crowd at Bridgetown. He then fell next ball for 101, Joseph’s scrambled seam luring him into a leading edge and Carlos Brathwaite making no mistake with the catch.

The end of the innings was a frantic one, England losing the final seven wickets in the space of just 8.5 overs as each batsman attempted to attack from the off. Ben Stokes’ brutal cameo was the pick of the other scorers, crunching 34 runs off just 20 balls.

England finished the innings on 328 all out from exactly 50 overs, with last man Plunkett run out from the final ball.

West Indies had never won an ODI when chasing 300 and their reply started ominously: Finn dismissing Keiron Powell third ball for 6. They continued to struggle with the England seamers’ pace and bounce, Woakes taking two wickets in his first two overs.

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The Warwickshire paceman struck with his third ball, getting Evin Lewis caught and bowled without scoring, and followed up with another in his second over, Kraigg Brathwaite clipping straight to Hales at midwicket for 5.

Next, Plunkett came to the party taking three wickets in three overs including two in two balls. First up, a full and straight delivery that Jason Mohammed could only glance onto his off stump, then Shai Hope chipped an easy catch to Root at square leg for 16. The very next ball, his replacement Jason Holder was dismissed for a golden as Plunkett got the ball to nip back in, take the edge and Jos Buttler made a superb diving catch.

Carlos Brathwaite - breaker of England hearts in the World T20 Final last summer - was the next man in. Considering what happened in that final, poetic justice suggested there could only be one man to dismiss him and Stokes duly did so, trapping him LBW for 7 with the first delivery he bowled to him.

Though Jonathan Carter continued to provide some resistance, he eventually fell to a Finn short ball for 46, picking out Stokes at deep square leg. Devendra Bishop was the last man to surrender, Adil Rashid claiming his first wicket, as England recorded a commanding 186 run victory and 3-0 series whitewash.

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