England crushed West Indies by a massive 238-run margin in the opening One-Day International (ODI) of the three-match series, played on Thursday.
This dominant victory gave England a 1-0 lead and marked one of their largest-ever winning margins in ODI cricket. It also highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the two sides, with England in top form and the West Indies struggling to find their footing.
Batting first, England posted a mammoth total of 400/8, a score built on aggressive batting and relentless pressure throughout the innings. The tone was set early by openers Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith, who added 64 quick runs. Although Smith departed after a blazing 37, Joe Root and Duckett continued the onslaught, combining for a steady 73-run partnership. Several batters chipped in with brisk fifties, including Harry Brook, who was captaining England for the first time in an ODI. Brook’s confident 51 reinforced England’s dominance in the middle overs.
The final phase of the innings belonged to Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks, who put on a breathtaking display of power-hitting. The pair added 98 runs in just 44 balls, with Bethell smashing 82 and bringing up his third ODI half-century. Their partnership propelled England to 400, leaving the West Indies with a daunting task.
In response, the West Indies crumbled under the scoreboard pressure. Their batting lineup collapsed to 162 all out in just 26.2 overs. Jayden Seales, batting at number 11, surprisingly top-scored for the side with 29 runs. Captain and wicketkeeper Shai Hope managed only 25, highlighting the batting failure across the board. The West Indies never looked settled and were completely overwhelmed by the clinical English bowling attack.
For England, Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton took three wickets each, while Adil Rashid claimed two scalps, ensuring there was no comeback for the West Indies.
This emphatic performance not only gave England an early lead but also sent a clear message ahead of the remaining matches. If the West Indies are to bounce back, they must regroup quickly and deliver a significantly improved display in both batting and bowling departments.