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England's new ODI captain Harry Brook's tenure got off to a dominating start as they beat West Indies by a colossal margin of 438 runs in the series opener on May 29 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Young Jacob Bethell who left Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) camp before playoffs, smashed five sixes in his 53-ball 82 as England posted 400 for 8. In reply, West Indies were bowled out for 162. England pacers Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton took three wickets each.
Ideal start for England
Earlier, West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and opted to bowl first. Jamie Smith's catch was dropped early and he made the visitors pay. Ben Duckett and Smith shared a 64-run opening partnership. Alzarri Joseph got the breakthrough with Smith's wicket. He scored 37 runs from 24 balls. Duckett reached his half-century from 34 balls in the 14th over. Justin Greaves ended Duckett's stay at the crease as Roston Chase took a one-handed stunner. The opener scored 60 runs from 48 balls. Root played patiently and reached his half-century from 60 balls. In the 27th over, He was dismissed by Jayden Seales for a 65-ball 57.
In the 30th over, Brook reached his maiden half-century as England's ODI captain. He took 41 balls. Seales got the breakthrough again. Brook got caught at deep point. He scored 58 runs from 45 deliveries. Jos Buttler and Bethell were new to the crease in the 32nd over. The played themselves in before playing aggressive shots. Seales was expensive but he got his third wicket in form of Buttler. The former captain scored 37 runs from 32 balls.
Bethell, Jacks go berserk
Will Jacks joined Bethell in the middle and England crossed the 300-run mark in the 43rd over. Two overs later, Bethell reached his fifty from 42 balls. In the slog overs, England started the onslaught. Jacks hit Matthew Forde for a six and four fours in the 24-run over. In the 48th over, Jacks missed out on a chance to score a half-century and fell to Greaves' slower ball for a 24-ball 39. In the penultimate over, Joseph dismissed Overton for just a single. Only one boundary came England's way in last two overs, that too via byes. Bethell became Seales' fourth victim of the day. His knock of 82 from 53 balls featured eight fours and five sixes. England's 400 for 8 is their biggest ODI score against West Indies at home.
Another collapse for West Indies
Chasing a target of 401, Greaves was caught at mid-off for a single-digit score off Mahmood's bowling. Then, Brandon King edged one to the wicketkeeper off Brydon Carse's bowling. The in-form Keacy Carty was given a reprieve as Overton dropped his catch off his own bowling and got injured as well. Mahmood continued his spell and got the wickets of Carty and Hope. Jewell Andrew hit one six before he was undone by Bethell, courtesy Brook's catch. West Indies were 78/5 in the 15th over.
Overton returned and got rid of Chase with a short ball. Adil Rashid joined the party and got the wicket of Amir Jangoo. Overton continued to strike and sent Forde and Gudakesh Motie back to the pavillion. West Indies were 124/9 in 22 overs. Seales remained unbeaten for a 14-ball 29, featuring two fours and three sixes. Joseph was the last to be dismissed as West Indies were bowled out for 162 in thr 27th over. England won by 238 runs, their second-biggest ODI win as per run-margin.
The second ODI of the series will be played at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on June 1.
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