The West Indies secured a decisive series victory against England in the third ODI held in Barbados, clinching the series 2-1 with an impressive eight-wicket win. The fast-bowling trio of Matthew Forde, Alzarri Joseph, and Romario Shepherd dominated the English batting lineup, collectively taking seven wickets. Following this stellar bowling performance, Keacy Carty and Brandon King showcased their batting skills, each scoring centuries to guide their team to a comfortable victory. Chasing a target of 264, West Indies surpassed England’s total with ease, reaching the score in just 43 overs, thanks to a record-breaking 209-run stand between Carty and King—the highest partnership for any wicket by West Indies in an ODI against England.
West Indies began their chase strongly, with Evin Lewis and Brandon King setting a solid foundation. England, however, managed an early breakthrough when Jamie Overton dismissed Lewis, who scored 19 runs before mistiming a pull shot. This brought Carty to the crease, and he joined forces with King to build a formidable partnership. Early in his innings, Carty survived an LBW decision through DRS after being given out off Liam Livingstone. Together, they quickly took control of the game, helping West Indies reach 100 runs within the first 19 overs, and their partnership grew, crossing 150 runs before the 27th over.
The English bowlers struggled to contain King and Carty, who kept the boundaries flowing with fours and sixes. England’s woes deepened when Jordan Cox dropped King on 86 off Jofra Archer’s bowling. King capitalized on this chance, reaching his century soon after. Before that, Carty had already scored his hundred, becoming the first player from St Maarten to achieve this milestone for the West Indies. Their partnership sailed past 200 runs until Reece Topley finally bowled King, but by then, West Indies was on the brink of victory. Carty finished the job, sealing the win and marking a memorable day for the West Indies.
England’s Struggles Against West Indies Pacers
Earlier in the match, England opted to bat but found themselves in early trouble. West Indies’ pacers made full use of the favorable bowling conditions, striking quickly. Forde drew first blood in the third over, having Will Jacks caught behind, while Joseph removed Cox soon after with a short-pitched ball that Cox gloved to the keeper. Jacob Bethell, the Barbados-born batter, was dismissed by Shepherd, who benefitted from a brilliant catch by Roston Chase at backward point. England soon found themselves in dire straits at 24 for 4 when Livingstone edged a delivery from Shepherd, leaving England’s middle order exposed.
Phil Salt and Sam Curran attempted to revive the innings, patiently adding 70 runs for the fifth wicket. Although they stabilized the innings somewhat, the scoring rate remained slow as they adjusted to the pitch, which Salt later described as “tacky.” Curran eventually fell for 40 to Chase, while Salt continued to lead the recovery alongside Dan Mousley. Their partnership also contributed 70 runs, but Salt’s innings ended at 74 after an impressive relay catch from King and Joseph near the boundary, giving Forde another wicket. Mousley reached his first ODI fifty, while Overton and Archer chipped in with brisk 30s toward the end, helping England reach 263 for 8—a total that proved insufficient against a dominant West Indies side.
On-Field Drama with Alzarri Joseph
Despite the success with the ball, West Indies had a moment of tension involving Alzarri Joseph. While bowling in the fourth over, Joseph appeared frustrated with the field setup and engaged in a lengthy discussion with captain Shai Hope. Even after taking the wicket of Jacks, Joseph did not celebrate and left the field abruptly after the over, visibly upset. For a short period, West Indies played with ten men until Joseph returned to the field, seemingly calmed down after speaking with head coach Daren Sammy.
Summary
Match Scorecard:
- England: 263/8 in 50 overs (Phil Salt 74, Dan Mousley 57; Matthew Forde 3-35, Alzarri Joseph 2-45)
- West Indies: 267/2 in 43 overs (Keacy Carty 128*, Brandon King 102; Jamie Overton 1-17)
- Result: West Indies won by 8 wickets
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