On November 2, 2024, England faced the West Indies in the second ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. After winning the toss, England opted to bowl first, a decision that would set the stage for their victory as they successfully chased down the West Indies’ total, leveling the series at 1-1.

Toss and Team News

Winning the toss, England captain Liam Livingstone choose to field, citing the overcast conditions and a belief that the pitch would offer assistance to seam bowlers early on. West Indies, led by Shai Hope, were looking to grab the series following from their win in the first ODI and aimed to post a competitive total.

West Indies Innings

The West Indies innings got off to a shaky start, struggling against England’s disciplined bowling attack. But after first half they geared up and managed to score a total massive 328 runs in 50 overs.

• Shai Hope: The captain top-scored with 117 runs off 127 balls, playing a crucial role in stabilizing the innings after early wickets fell.
• Sherfane Rutherford: Contributed a solid 54 runs off 36 balls, showing intent to push the score along during the middle overs.
• Matthew Forde: Provided some late-order fireworks, scoring 23 runs off 11 balls, which helped West Indies cross the 300-run mark.

The England bowlers were struggling, showcasing their skills:

• Adil Rashid: Was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 2 wickets for 62 runs in his 10 overs.
• John Turner: Provided vital breakthroughs, taking 2 wickets for 42 runs while maintaining pressure throughout his spell.
• Jofra Archer: Also took 1 wickets for 40 runs in his 9 overs, ensuring that the West Indies never gained significant momentum.

England’s Chase

Chasing a target of 328, England approached their innings with a balanced mix of aggression and caution. They finished the chase at 329 runs for 5 wickets in 47.3 overs.

• Liam Livingstone (c): Set the tone for the chase with an authoritative 124 runs off 85 balls, forming a solid partnership with Jacob & Sam Curran.
• Philip Salt: Played a stabilizing role, scoring 59 runs off 59 balls, building crucial partnerships that were key to England’s success.
• Jacob Bethell: Provided a late flourish with a rapid 55 runs off 57 balls, ensuring a comfortable victory for England.
• Sam Curran: fires the score with a full of momentum 52 runs of 52 balls, ensuring the chase of this big total.

West Indies bowlers found it difficult to contain the English batsmen:

• Matthew Forde: Was the pick of the bowlers for the West Indies, taking 3 wickets for 48 runs, but lacked support from his teammates.
• Roston Chase: Managed to take one wicket for 53 runs but played a crucial bowling, reflecting the overall struggles of the bowling attack.

Match Summary

England’s victory by 5 wickets highlighted their depth in batting and the effectiveness of their bowling strategy. With this win, they leveled the ODI series, setting the stage for an exciting decider in the final match.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Decision-Making: England’s choice to bowl first proved advantageous, as their bowlers effectively restricted the West Indies to a modest total.
• Partnerships Matter: Key partnerships between Liam Livingstone, Philip Salt, and later Sam Curran, were instrumental in England’s chase.
• West Indies’ Inconsistency: The home side’s batting lineup must find greater stability, particularly in the middle order, to compete effectively.

The series is now poised for an exciting conclusion as both teams gear up for the final ODI, with momentum on England’s side.