WI v ENG, 1st ODI Review: Morgan and bowlers give England 1-0 lead

England defeated West Indies by 45 runs in the 1st ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua to go 1-0 up in the 3 match ODI series. England had to work for their win but in the end, it was pretty comprehensive. Riding on a brilliant century by captain Eoin Morgan and half-centuries from Ben Stokes and Sam Billings England posted a more than decent 296 on the board in their allotted 50 overs. Shanon Gabriel and Ashley Nurse chipped in with a couple of wickets each for the hosts.

Despite stuttering in the run chase initially, the hosts came back into the match courtesy gritty innings from Jason Mohammad and Jonathan Carter. But after the dismissal of the duo, it was a case of so near, yet so far. In the end, the visitors bowled them out for 251 in the 48th over, thus handing the Englishmen a convincing victory in the end.

West Indies captain Jason Holder won the toss and put the visitors in. The visitors didn’t go off to the best possible starts, losing Jason Roy and Joe Root within 8 overs. Gabriel got rid of Roy who has been striking the ball pretty well in the last season or so. The ball didn’t bounce much and thudded onto his pads. The umpire had no hesitation and ruled it in favour of West Indies. Root was too dismissed in quick succession by Gabriel as he breached his defence with a scorcher of a delivery. The ball swung and went through Root’s defence.

Captain Eoin Morgan joined Billings in the middle and the duo looked to resurrect the innings. Billings played some delightful strokes which got the Englishmen going. Morgan too chipped in with the odd boundaries as England reached 90/2 at the end of 20 overs. Billings completed a fluent half-century in the 21st over but departed soon after of the bowling of Ashley Nurse. Morgan remained perturbed and was joined Jos Buttler in the middle.

Morgan smashed a couple of boundaries of Devendra Bishoo in the 25th over but in the very next over, his partner Jos Buttler departed. Carter took a brilliant catch at slip off the bowling of Nurse. Ben Stokes joined Morgan and the duo rotated the strike along to rebuild the innings. Morgan struck the occasional boundaries which kept the scoreboard ticking. Stokes struck his first boundary in the 40th over when he smashed Jason Mohammed for a huge six over his head.

Sixers started to flow from the bats of both southpaws as the Caribbean bowlers found it pretty difficult to contain them. Morgan eventually reached a well-deserved century in the 49th over and pumped his fists in delight. Morgan was run out in the final over as England reached 296/6 in their allotted 50 overs.

The hosts went off to a slow but steady start. Evin Lewis struck some magnificent shots and was well supported by Kraigg Brathwaite during the 1st powerplay. West Indies lost their first wicket in the final over of the first power play as Chris Woakes bounced him out with a well-directed bouncer. Liam Plunkett opened his account with the wicket of Kieran Powell in the 11th over and Woakes reduced the hosts to 39/3 by removing Kraigg Brathwaite in the 13t over

Shai Hope and Jason Mohammed joined in the middle and looked to steady the ship. Mohammed played some graceful shots and Hope supported him pretty well. After sharing a crucial 69 runs partnership, Hope was dismissed by tweaker Adil Rashid. Jonathan Carter came out in the middle and after a slow start started taking on the English bowlers with his audacious strokeplay. Mohammed reached his maiden ODI fifty in the 32nd over which ensured that the hosts were well and truly in with a shout.

Carter then smashed Joe Root for a six and a four in the 34th over and followed it up with one more in the very next over of Chris Woakes. After scoring a quick fire half century Carter departed which again tilted the scales in favour of the visitors. With the fall of Jason Mohammed in the 42nd over, the end seemed near though T20 hero Carlos Brathwaite was still there at the crease. Woakes removed Brathwaite in the 45th over and the writing was on the wall from thereon. The hosts were eventually bundled out for 251 in the 48th over. Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett were the wreckers in chief for the visitors as both finished with 4 wickets each

Brief Scores

England 296/6 in 50 overs (Eoin Morgan 107, Ben Stokes 55, Ashley Nurse 2/57)

West Indies 251 in 47.2 overs (Jason Mohammed 72, Jonathan Carter 52, Chris Woakes 4/47, Liam Plunkett 4/40)

England won by 45 runs