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England clinched a clean sweep over the West Indies in the final ODI of the three-match series at The Oval. In a rain-affected encounter of 40 overs, the home side delivered a commanding performance, securing a seven-wicket victory with more than 10 overs to spare. The win marks the start of the English summer for the men’s team in style, as they script a new chapter under the leadership of Harry Brook.
Early breakthroughs put West Indies on back foot
After winning the toss, England opted to bowl first, and the decision paid off early as Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse struck quickly, reducing the visitors to 28 for 2. However, a composed innings of 70 from captain Shai Hope and a brisk 63 from Gudakesh Motie rescued the West Indies, helping them post a competitive total of 251 in the allotted 40 overs.
For the home side, Adil Rashid was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three crucial wickets for just 40 runs. He was well supported by Saqib Mahmood, Carse, and Potts, who chipped in with two wickets each. England’s bowling unit did enough to keep the hosts in control.
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Top order fireworks seal series sweep for England
Chasing a formidable target of 252, England came out all guns blazing. Openers Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett got the innings off to a flying start, adding 93 runs in just 43 deliveries for the first wicket. Centurion from the previous game, Joe Root, anchored the chase with a composed 44, while wicketkeeper Jos Buttler returned to form in style, smashing a rapid 41 off just 20 balls to see England home comfortably.
For the West Indies, Alzarri Joseph once again proved his mettle with the ball, maintaining good pace and discipline. However, he received little support from the rest of the bowling unit, as runs flowed freely from both ends. Inconsistent lines, lack of variation, and missed opportunities in the field only added to the visitors’ woes, making it difficult to stem England’s aggressive momentum.
