England produced a comprehensive performance in the first ODI against the West Indies at Edgbaston, Birmingham, to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series on Thursday, May 29.
Shai Hope won the toss and opted to field first on a belter of a track. Jamie Smith got off to a blistering start but couldn’t register his maiden ODI half-century. However, the next three batters – Ben Duckett (60), Joe Root (57), and Harry Brook (58) brought up their fifties in quick time.
Jos Buttler and Will Jacks played aggressive knocks, but it was Jacob Bethell who top-scored for the Three Lions. The southpaw came out to bat at No. 6 in the 31st over. He smashed eight fours and five sixes en route to a 53-ball 82. England finished on 400/8. Jayden Seales bagged four wickets for the tourists but conceded 84 runs in his nine overs. Meanwhile, Alzarri Joseph and Justin Greaves finished with figures of 2/69 and 2/68, respectively, after bowling 10 overs each.
In reply, Greaves was the first Caribbean batter to be dismissed. Saqib Mahmood sent him packing in the third over. Brandon King also departed soon after, and the in-form duo of Hope and Keacy Carty joined forces. However, both of them were dismissed after getting starts.
Wickets kept falling at regular intervals as the visiting side slumped to 124/9. Seales and Alzarri threw their bats in their last-wicket partnership and accounted for 38 runs off just 27 balls. The former finished unbeaten on 29 off 14 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes. The No. 11 batter turned out to be the highest run-scorer for the West Indies. West Indies were bowled out for 162 in 26.2 overs.
For England, Mahmood and Jamie Overton bagged three wickets apiece. Meanwhile, Adil Rashid conceded 50 runs in 5.2 overs but picked up two wickets. Brydon Carse and Bethell also chipped in with one wicket apiece. The latter was named Player of the Match for his all-round efforts.
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