West Indies secured a memorable series win against England, thanks to a splendid cameo from Romario Shepherd in a thrilling encounter in Barbados on Saturday.
It was the first time since 1998, that West Indies won a home ODI series against England. In fact, it was more than two-and-a-half years since they last won a bilateral series against a full-member nation.
The rain-curtailed game saw West Indies well-placed in the run chase, needing 72 from 78 with seven wickets in hand. However, England's Will Jacks turned the game around with a spell that included three quick wickets, putting the home side under pressure at 135/6.
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Despite the challenge, Romario Shepherd's aggressive batting, featuring sixes off Rehan Ahmed and Gus Atkinson, proved crucial.
Atkinson had earlier removed Brandon King, but Keacy Carty and Alick Athanaze provided a strong start for West Indies. Skipper Shai Hope's departure gave England a chance, but Shepherd's explosive batting eased the pressure.
West Indian fans will feel lifted that after 25 years, West Indies defeat England in an ODI series in the Caribbean. Good debut for Mathew Forde. Great that Keacy Carty is as persisted with. That’s the culture of stability, backing and trust that creates a good culture.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) December 10, 2023
In a rain-affected match reduced to 43 overs per side, West Indies opted to bowl first. Debutant Forde made a remarkable start, claiming a wicket in his very first over and dismissing Zak Crawley in his second. Despite Ben Duckett's hat-trick of boundaries, Forde's brilliance continued as he took the outside edge of Jacks, leaving England struggling at 45/3.
The collapse deepened as 45/3 quickly turned into 49/5. Hesitation cost Harry Brook his wicket through a run-out, and shortly after, Jos Buttler was dismissed for a first-ball duck. Duckett then formed a crucial partnership with Liam Livingstone, guiding England out of trouble. Duckett's half-century became pivotal as he showcased brilliant form, smashing Alzarri Joseph for a six and a four.
Livingstone joined the onslaught with a six of his own, gaining momentum for England. However, Shepherd returned to remove both well-set batters in successive overs, crushing England's hopes. Despite the lower order pushing past 200, it wasn't sufficient to prevent West Indies from securing victory and winning the series.
Highlights: England vs West Indies
Our #MastercardPricelessMoment goes to Matthew Forde with a brilliant assist from the Vice-captain taking his maiden ODI wicket🏏🌴 pic.twitter.com/pYcuhoUVug
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) December 10, 2023
Dream start to ODI cricket for Matthew Forde!💥#WIvENG #WIHomeForChristmas
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) December 9, 2023
Live Scorecard⬇️https://t.co/Bj1ZDroOAz pic.twitter.com/sXuH3jSiU0
What did West Indies' Matthew Forde say after the match?
Speaking on TNT Sports, Forde said: "There's a lot of work going on behind the scenes and me and the guys have been training very hard before the series.
"It's a dream come true. It was always special for me. I'm 21-years-old and living my dream and I thank all the guys for making it possible. They've welcomed me with open arms and I'm lost for words.
"Being out here in front of my home crowd is heart-warming.
"The wicket was a bit tacky and giving seam movement so for me it was just about being consistent. It was line and length and I'm thankful I got some wickets.
"I always back myself batting with these guys. It was just about rotating the strike rate."
What did England captain Jos Buttler say after the defeat to West Indies?
Jos Buttler admitted that his team made "mistakes" and fell short of runs on the board.
"I think we were a few short with the bat and it really set us back. We fought hard with the ball but it just wasn't enough," he said.
"The rain break was challenging but we are used to that. We know we made a few mistakes and weren't able to build the game.
"We could have done with a few more runs in the end and it's a start of a long journey for this side. Hopefully, we can build something for the future."
What next for England & West Indies?
After the ODI series, the two teams will lock horns against each other in a five-match T20 series with the first match set to be held on Tuesday at Barbados.
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