By Eric Collymore
November 1, 2024
West Indies claimed a commanding eight-wicket victory over England in the opening match of their three-game One-Day International (ODI) series.
The rain-affected encounter took place at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday night.
Batting first, England was bowled out for 209 in 45.1 overs.
Gudakesh Motie led the bowling attack with impressive figures of 4 for 41, while Matthew Forde, Jaydon Seales, and Alzarri Joseph each contributed with two wickets.
England’s captain Liam Livingstone top-scored with 48, and Sam Curran added a steady 37 to stabilize the innings.
In response, the West Indies openers made a strong start, reaching 81 without loss in 15 overs before rain interrupted play.
When the match resumed, the revised target under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method required the Caribbean side to chase 155 runs in 35 overs.
Opener Evin Lewis was the star of the innings, smashing a brilliant 94 runs off just 52 balls, including eight sixes and five fours.
He was well-supported by Brandon King, who added 30 runs, as the duo put together an opening stand of 118 runs.
Following their dismissals, Keacy Carty and Shai Hope comfortably guided the team to 157 for 2, sealing the victory with 55 balls to spare.
Lewis praised the team’s chemistry and acknowledged areas for improvement as they prepare for the second ODI, scheduled for Saturday at the same venue starting at 9:30 a.m.
West Indies now lead the series 1-0 and will look to carry their momentum into the next match.