WI v ENG, 2nd ODI Review: Woakes, Root power England to unassailable 2-0 lead

After a convincing first match win over the West Indies, team England were keen on capping off the series in the second. The action stayed at Antigua and the teams battled it out on the same surface on which they played a day ago. The pitch was a known one and hence it was only expected that both sides manage to put their best foot forward coming in to the game. As the match unfolded, it was the visiting English side that came on top and finished with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3 match series.

The English bowlers continued their good form and contained the West Indies team to a lowly 225. They had their share of hiccups in the run chase but a gutsy Chris Woakes and Joe Root stand saw them over the line on the day. The action now moves to Barbados for the final match of the series where the hosts will play for pride. Earlier in the day, it was West Indies who won the toss and opted to bat first. Surprisingly, they went in with an unchanged eleven. England, too, fielded the same winning combination that played in the last fixture.

Evin Lewis and Kraigg Brathwaite walked in to open the innings. Lewis’ poor run continued as he was dismissed by Steven Finn in the third over on 8. Kieran Powell, who came in with a reputation of a big time hitter, failed for the second time in a row as Finn accounted for his dismissal on 9. Shai Hope was the third man to be dismissed as he managed to score 16 off 27 deliveries before becoming the victim of Ben Stokes in the 14th over.

At 46/3, the start for the hosts was definitely not ominous. Jason Mohammed, who showed good form in the first ODI, joined Brathwaite at the crease. Both batsmen showed patience and application as they added 72 runs for the 4th wicket to steady things at the middle.

The partnership was broken when Kraigg Brathwaite tried to break the shackles but ended up being stumped by Jos Buttler off the bowling of Moeen Ali. He scored 42 off 70 deliveries with 2 fours to his name. Jonathan Carter had looked in the previous outing as well and continued to show good run of form. Meanwhile, Mohammed reached his fifty to keep the hopes of the hosts alive. But he could not add any further to his score and was dismissed by Liam Plunkett soon after he reached the landmark. His 50 came off 73 deliveries with 2 fours and as many sixes.

Carter became Plunkett’s second victim as he scored a brisk 39 off 36 to give some impetus to the West Indies innings. Some low order contributions from Carlos Brathwaite (23) helped the hosts breach the 200-run mark. But constant falling of wickets never let them get in control of the game. They were bundled out for 225 in 47.5 overs. Plunkett was the pick of the bowlers with 3/32 to his name and was supported by Finn and Adil Rashid who scalped 2 wickets each.

The run chase for England began in a horrific fashion as opener Sam Billings, who had scored a brillian fifty in the previous outing, was sent packing on a golden duck by Shannon Gabriel on the second ball of the chase. Joe Root joined the other opener Jason Roy at the crease. Roy and Root then took things to their hands. While Root took time to settle in, Roy looked in total control of the proceedings. He powered his way to yet another fifty in quick time as the two batsmen added 86 runs for the second wicket in quick time.

It was Ashley Nurse who got the wicket of Roy in the 15th over on 52 that came off in 48 deliveries with 7 fours and a six. Player of the previous match Eoin Morgan walked in but only to be dismissed on 7 soon after by Nurse. Wickets of Stokes (1), Jos Buttler (0) and Moeen Ali (3) fell in quick succession as the cavalcade of batsmen heading to the pavilion continued. England were in dire straits all of a sudden with 124/6. It was then that a certain Chris Woakes joined Root at the crease.

Also read – Twitter Reactions: Joe Root – Chris Woakes partnership steers England to series victory

Both batsmen marshalled their way through and kept the scorecard moving. They reached their respective fifties and took the game away from the hosts gradually. With an unbeaten 102 run stand, they saw the visitors over the line with 10 balls to spare and six wickets in hand. Root remained unbeaten on 90 off 127 balls with 3 fours and Woakes mastered an 83-ball 68 with 5 fours and 2 sixes.

Brief Scores:

West Indies 225/10 in 47.5 overs (Mohammed 50, K Brathwaite 42, Plunkett 3/32, Finn 2/38)

England 226/6 in 48.2 overs (Root 90*, Woakes 68*, Nurse 3/34, Bishoo 2/43)