- By Namrata Vijay
- Thu, 07 Nov 2024 08:31 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
WI vs ENG, 3rd ODI: West Indies thrashed England by eight wickets at Kensington Oval on Thursday and also won the series by 2-1 on the back of brilliant hundred from Keacy Carty and Brandon King. Carty scored his maiden hundred off 97 balls and became the first player from St Maarten to have achieved this milestone for the hosts. King also scored his century after surviving two dropped catches and scored more than 50 runs for the first time since the World Cup qualifier in July last year. They stitched the partnership of 209 runs and it became the highest ODI partnership for West Indies against England.
The visitors had a shaky start as they were reeling at 24/4 during the powerplay. Phil Salt and Dan Mously scored gritty knocks and helped the team bounce back after suffering a batting collapse. Salt scored 79 runs off 50 balls along with Mously's first fifty. But with the West Indies bowler getting injured Romario Shepherd leaving the match midway and Sherfane Rutherford's lean patch, helped the visitors make a comeback. They scored 100 runs in the last 10 overs as Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer scored gritty knocks Rutherford conceded 57 runs in the 3.5 overs that he bowled.
The hosts had a flying start while chasing. King didn't waste much time as he took Jofra Archer to the cleaners and although suffered an early blow as Ewin Lewis was dismissed for 19 runs, they were 65/1 after the powerplay. The England bowlers were seen struggling to pile pressure as a leg-spinner like Adil Rashid too leaked runs. King scored 60 runs off 50 balls and although the English bowlers did try to bounce back, there were a few incidents of misfielding, which helped King and Carty to take West Indies across the line.
King survived a dropped catch on 44 and scored his century by playing a flick shot as the ball went towards fine leg. Carty, on the other hand, smashed seven England bowlers brilliantly and scored his half-century off 61 balls, and then smashed a brilliant six in Reece Topley's over. He brought up his hundred by playing a deft shot as the ball went towards the third man and also received a standing ovation from the fans. Topley did dismiss King when West Indies needed just 13 runs to win the match.
During the match, controversy also erupted when Alzarri Joseph was seen arguing with captain Shai Hope's fielding setup for England's No.3 batter Jordan Cox. Joseph vented out his frustration by bowling a fierce bouncer as Cox played a flick shot, and the wicket-keeper took an easy catch. Incidents like these showed West Indies' bowling prowess, and that left the visitors tottering.
Although England's lower order performed brilliantly, the West Indies' brilliant chase showed why both skippers wanted to bowl first. The West Indies pacers took advantage of the home conditions, and Carty and King's hundred helped them win the series.
Both teams will lock horns will lock horns with each other for a five-match T20I series, which will be held on November 9.