Recent Match Report – West Indies vs England 1st ODI 2023،
Break of the heats England 325 (creek 71) against West Indies
England took a first positive step since the 2023 World Cup by posting 325 against the West Indies in their first innings since their dismal 50-over title defense. In doing so, they recorded the highest score in men's ODIs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
On a difficult to gauge surface in Antigua, Harry Brook's 71 built on the work of Zak Crawley (48) and Phil Salt (45) at the top of the order to put England in a strong position for the behind, after the hosts, led by Gudakesh Motie 2 for 49, had kept their opponents in check.
But with the score at 239 for 7 with nine overs remaining, Sam Curran and Brydon Carse launched a blitz of 66 off 38 to take the score beyond 300, ultimately putting West Indies at 326 for victory in this 1st ODI. The only English blemish of note was another miss from captain Jos Buttler, who made just three.
Salt provided a boost to this white-ball restart, coming out of the blocks with a flurry of boundaries after Buttler won the toss and elected to bat first. Salt helped himself to 36 of the team's first 53 runs, his third six – sweeping Romario Shepherd to midwicket – taking England to the first milestone after just 5.4 overs, before hitting a cover of four to close out the 6th.
That’s when Shai Hope turned to Motie with the dual goals of slowing down the pace of the ball and the scoring rate. It didn't take long for both to come true.
The left-arm orthodox spinner removed Salt for 45 in his second over, but with a short, wide delivery that should have been hit anywhere except into the hands of Keacy Carty at cover. Seven deliveries (and no runs) later, Alzarri Joseph, who had changed ends for Motie's introduction, produced a delivery with extra bounce and seam to remove Will Jacks for 26, caught by Hope, making it made 77 for 2.
A single point would be added at the end of the first Powerplay, as Test openers Crawley and Ben Duckett settled into a measured position. Duckett used his reverse sweep effectively to hit Motie for consecutive fours in the 12th over, but he was guilty of being too cute against leg-spinner Yannic Cariah – a bent leg stump attempting a paddle around the corner.
This ushered in a more impactful partnership between Crawley and Brook, measured until it ended on 71 midway through the 30th over. And yet it should have ended sooner. Crawley was horribly dropped on 30 by Motie after completing an unconvincing sweep against Cariah, before edging leg-leg between the keeper and slipping on 33.
A third ODI fifty was on the cards for Crawley, following his captaincy against Ireland at the end of the 2023 season while the World Cup squad was rested. Brook, however, robbed him of the landmark with a late 'no' when the Kent batter fell and ran into the covers on 48, only to be dismissed. Alick Athanaze dove from point to point to make a simple exit.
Then came yet another misfortune for Buttler, gloving a reverse sweep to first slip to give Motie his second dismissal. Thus continues a gloomy streak since the start of the World Cup of only 141 points in 10 innings. But just when the momentum seemed to be fading during the innings, Brook, with the help of Liam Livingstone, counter-attacked with four sixes between them.
Brook's first over ended a 33-ball wait for a boundary, as Shepherd was pulled high over deep mid-wicket, taking England past 200. A single off the next delivery moved the Yorkshireman 58 to 50 for a third half-century in the format. He began Cariah's next over with a powerful sweep behind square leg to clear the fence again. Livingstone finished with consecutive sixes to ensure 23 were bagged from the 38th over.
Livingstone's demise – LBW to a snatcher from Shepherd – was as good an indicator as any of the changing nature of this surface and suggested the tourists were in good form with the 232 they had in the 39th over. And although Brook departed after failing to force Shepherd's slower ball out of Joseph's reach at mid-off – moments after Athanaze almost made a spectacular catch at backward point to remove him on 70 – a reinforced tail was able to provide the necessary final flourishing.
Curran finished with 38, most of which came in a boundary-heavy double act with Carse. They dismantled Joseph, finding 17 on the quick nine to spoil his numbers, and ran smart throughout. The only misunderstanding came when Curran's advantage at third in the circle brought about its end, as Carse rushed in with little communication, leaving his partner well out on the non-attacking end. Curran had started again with a six to take England to 305.
Carse saw things through, although he passed the final over off strike, as a six down the ground from Rehan Ahmed and a cover up for four from Gus Atkinson dealt some final blows. Both fell to ensure Oshane Thomas' strong early work was rewarded in the wicket column, finishing with 2 for 57 as England were bowled out by the final delivery.
