The final One-Day International of the West Indies tour of England 2025, played at the historic Kennington Oval in London on Tuesday, June 3rd, saw England complete a commanding 3-0 series whitewash with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over the West Indies. The match, affected by both traffic woes and persistent rain, was a testament to England’s evolving white-ball dominance under new captain Harry Brook.
A Chaotic Start and Reduced Overs
The day began with an unusual delay even before a ball was bowled. The West Indies team bus encountered significant traffic congestion in London, causing a 30-minute delay to the scheduled start time. Reports indicated that some England players, in a rather unconventional move, resorted to completing the final leg of their journey to the ground on Lime bikes to ensure they arrived on time.
Following the delayed start, persistent rain then intervened, forcing a further reduction in overs. The match was eventually reduced to a 40-overs-a-side contest, a challenge for both teams to adjust their strategies.
West Indies Innings: Rutherford and Motie Lead a Spirited Fightback
After winning the toss, England captain Harry Brook elected to field, putting the West Indies in to bat on a damp morning. The decision paid dividends early as England’s seamers, Saqib Mahmood, Brydon Carse, and Matthew Potts, wreaked havoc in the powerplay. West Indies found themselves in deep trouble at 28 for 3 inside the first seven overs, losing Evin Lewis (8), Brandon King (16), and Shai Hope (0) cheaply.
However, a resilient partnership emerged between Sherfane Rutherford and Keacy Carty, who had been a centurion in the previous ODI. They added 62 runs for the fourth wicket, attempting to stabilize the innings amidst the testing conditions. Rutherford, playing his first match of the series, looked in fine touch, showcasing his power-hitting ability.
After a brief rain interruption, West Indies wickets continued to fall, including Carty (caught off Adil Rashid) and a golden duck for Roston Chase. At 154 for 7 in the 27th over with Rutherford’s dismissal (caught by a superb diving catch from Harry Brook at mid-on off Brydon Carse for a well-made 70 off 71 balls), it seemed West Indies would struggle to reach even 200.
But then came an extraordinary partnership that revived their innings. Gudakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph put on a stunning 91-run stand for the eighth wicket, the highest such partnership for West Indies against England in ODI cricket. Motie played a swashbuckling innings, smashing 63 off just 54 balls, including 5 fours and 3 sixes, while Joseph provided aggressive support with 41 off 29 balls. Their heroics propelled West Indies to a respectable total of 251 for 9 in their allotted 40 overs. Adil Rashid was the pick of the English bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 40 runs. Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Potts, and Brydon Carse also chipped in with two wickets each.
England’s Dominant Chase: Smith and Duckett Lay the Foundation
With a DLS revised target of 246 runs to win from 40 overs, England’s opening pair of Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett came out with an aggressive intent, seemingly adopting a “Bazball” approach to the white-ball format. They got off to a blistering start, putting on a rapid 93-run opening partnership off just 43 balls.
Jamie Smith, opening for the first time in the series, was particularly destructive, smashing a blistering maiden ODI fifty off just 25 balls, laced with 10 fours and 3 sixes. He looked set for a much bigger score but was eventually bowled by Gudakesh Motie after an eventful over where he hit 20 runs before his dismissal at 64 runs off 28 balls.
Ben Duckett continued the charge, reaching his eighth ODI half-century off 34 balls, including 4 fours and 3 sixes, before holing out to Roston Chase for 58 runs.
Brook and Buttler Finish in Style
The loss of the openers didn’t deter England’s relentless pursuit. Joe Root, who had played a magnificent century in the previous match, contributed a steady 44 runs off 48 balls before being dismissed by Alzarri Joseph.
It was left to the current captain, Harry Brook (26 not out off 26 balls), and the former captain, Jos Buttler (41 not out off 20 balls), to finish the job. They shared an unbeaten 46-run partnership, with Buttler sealing the seven-wicket victory in style with a magnificent six, completing the chase in just 29.4 overs.
Conclusion: A Clean Sweep and Momentum for England
England’s emphatic victory not only secured a 3-0 series whitewash but also demonstrated their depth and adaptability in a shortened game. Jamie Smith’s explosive maiden fifty was a significant highlight, showcasing the talent waiting in the wings.
Harry Brook’s leadership in his first series as permanent white-ball captain has been impressive, and the team’s aggressive intent, despite the challenges of rain and traffic, speaks volumes about their confidence.
For the West Indies, while the series result is disappointing, the fighting spirit shown by Sherfane Rutherford, Gudakesh Motie, and Alzarri Joseph, particularly with their record-breaking partnership, provides some positives to take into the upcoming T20I series. England will now shift their focus to the T20 format, beginning on Friday, June 6th, looking to carry this winning momentum forward.
Also Read : https://indiatadkha.com/royal-challengers-bengaluru-vs-punjab-kings-match/
Sourashis Chanda brings readers their unique perspective on Business, Economy, Health and Fitness. With a background in Health and Physical Fitness of 2years, I am dedicated to exploring [what they aim to achieve with their writing, on the sustainable Economy of the country, various pro tips about business, latest goverment news, with some tips in health are and Fitness.
- Sourashis Chandahttps://indiatadkha.com/author/sourashis/
- Sourashis Chandahttps://indiatadkha.com/author/sourashis/
- Sourashis Chandahttps://indiatadkha.com/author/sourashis/
- Sourashis Chandahttps://indiatadkha.com/author/sourashis/
