England began their ODI series against the West Indies in style, clinching a massive 238-run victory under new captain Harry Brook. The triumph not only gave England a 1-0 lead in the series but also ended their seven-match losing streak in ODIs — a much-needed boost after a tough 18 months in the format.
Opting to bat first after losing the toss, England piled on a mammoth 400 runs — the sixth time in their ODI history they’ve crossed the 400-mark. The star of the show was Jacob Bethell, who smashed a blistering 82 off just 53 balls to earn the Player of the Match award. Brook himself contributed with a composed 58, while Joe Root and Ben Duckett chipped in with 57 and 60 runs respectively.
The West Indies bowlers struggled to find any rhythm, though Jayden Seales emerged as a bright spot, claiming 4 wickets for 84 runs in his 9 overs. Their only other highlight came in the field, where they took three impressive catches.
In reply, the West Indies innings never got going. England’s fiery pacer Saqib Mahmood dismantled the top order early, setting the tone for a dominant bowling performance. The only resistance came from Jayden Seales, who also top-scored with 29. The visitors were eventually bowled out for just 162 in 26.2 overs. Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton each took three wickets to seal the win.
With the second ODI set for Sunday in Cardiff, England will be eyeing a series-clinching win under Brook’s promising leadership.
