Image Credit- AFP
In the third One-Day International in Barbados, West
Indies defeated England by four wickets to complete a long-awaited 2-1 series
victory.
They hadn’t won a 50-over match against England since
2007. The English, for their part, were desperate for a win to get over their
disastrous World Cup championship defence. Not only did West Indies lose the
qualification and miss out on India, but they also triumphed in a bilateral
match for the first time in over 2.5 years against a Full Member country.
Rain caused a two-hour delay in the start of the match
and disrupted England’s innings, which started as a 43-over match but ended up
being a 40-over one. All in all, it was an extremely painful match. After
another delay, the tourists managed to score 206 for 9, leaving West Indies
needing to score 188 from 34 overs—a target they met with 14 balls remaining.
In front of his home fans, debutant Matthew Forde got
things going by taking 3 for 29 and reducing England to 49 for 5 in 10 overs.
After making 16 and a duck in his first two knockouts of the series, Keacy
Carty then displayed class with a second career half-century. Romario Shepherd
then replicated his 28-ball cameo from Antigua, scoring an undefeated 41 this
time to take them over the line.
After an arduous winter for the ODI setup, it was
another setback for England and Jos Buttler, who lost the toss and returned a
first-ball duck. That being said, Will Jacks’ outstanding performance of 3 for
22 made them favourites going into the final stretch. With 73 in the second
ODI, the Surrey opener helped tie the series and appeared to be making a
difference with his offspin. Despite not being used on the field in the opening
game, he managed to produce career-best List A numbers.
Following a flawless drive by Brandon King to Jacks at
cover, Athanaze and Carty executed a run-a-ball stand of 76, seemingly
relieving the pressure of the chase. Athanaze was back in the mood that had
allowed him to hammer home a stylish 66 in the opening One-Day International,
hitting everything across the pitch and spluttering sometimes to pick
boundaries through the leg side. You wondered if Rehan’s googly would get
things through to the end when it passed his edge and nipped off stump through
to Buttler’s gloves without displacing a bail.
Unfortunately, he would only score one more run before
being yorked by Atkinson for 44, setting off a four-wicket collapse for just
44. The pressure was on Shepherd, the next batter, as the needed rate edged
past six an over. At first, Carty was the star of the show; he brought up a
half-century from 56 deliveries. After two balls, Carty moved the emphasis to
Shepherd by dancing down and bunting a return catch to Jacks for his third
wicket. And he fulfilled it.
Shepherd eventually secured the moment of glory with a
fine sweep for his sixth and final boundary.