Hundreds from Jason Roy and Joe Root powered England to their highest-ever ODI run-chase, as the visitors saw off the West Indies by six wickets after weathering a Chris Gayle storm on Wednesday, 20 February.
The tourists were set a target of 361 in the first ODI of the five-match series at Barbados, with Gayle marking his return to international cricket after six months out by smashing 12 sixes in a knock of 135 which propelled the hosts to a total of 360/8.
But West Indies’ hopes of a first win over England in the format in 11 matches – a winless streak dating back to March 2014 – would be denied as the World Cup favourites stormed home with eight balls to spare, with captain Eoin Morgan stroking a fluent 65 to go with Roy and Root’s centuries at the top.
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- England’s highest successful run-chase in ODIs (previous-best: 350/3 vs New Zealand, Nottingham, June 2015).
- Third-highest successful run-chase in ODIs (behind South Africa’s 438/9 vs Australia in 2006 and 372/6, also against the Aussies, in 2016).
- Only the eighth time a team has chased down a target of 350 or more in ODIs.
- England’s 10th successful chase of 300+ in ODIs – seven of which have come since their group-stage exit at the 2015 World Cup.
Roy led England at the top of the order with 123 in 85 balls, while Root all but finished the job with a measured 102 before falling with the scores tied.
Gayle, beginning a lap-of-honour that will end with retirement after this summer's World Cup, was nearly caught when he was on just nine from 33 balls when he fended Liam Plunkett just over the grasping Roy at point.
Four balls later he struck his first six and began working through the gears, clattering four sixes from Plunkett's 14 balls at him, on a day when he would surpass Shahid Afridi’s record for the most sixes in international cricket.
Having taken 76 balls to reach his first 50, Gayle belted his second 50 off just 24 balls – and celebrated the moment by dropping to his knees and hailing the pavilion before getting to his feet and balancing his maroon helmet on top of his bat.
Gayle’s hundred was his first against a top-8 ranked team in one-dayers since June 2013, and at 39 years and 152 days, he became the third-oldest centurion in ODI history.
He finally fell in the 47th over, turning a Ben Stokes slower ball into his stumps.
The England all-rounder finished with 3-37, including the wicket of Carlos Brathwaite.
Adil Rashid also took three wickets, despite being curiously held back until the 34th over. Ashley Nurse clubbed three late sixes to see the Windies break the record for the most sixes in a single ODI innings with 23 hits over the fence at Bridgetown.
Far from being overwhelmed by the chase, Roy went after opening pair Devendra Bishoo and Oshane Thomas.
Roy's fourth ball of the day, from Bishoo, disappeared down the ground for six while both he and Jonny Bairstow used Thomas' express speed against him amid a flurry of early boundaries.
England reached 50 inside six overs and 100 in exactly 12, with Roy's focus undimmed by Bairstow's departure for 34. With Root calmly accumulating, the West Indies needed to halt Roy's charge but a top edge drifted away from Thomas in the breeze and Holder failed to grab a reaction caught-and-bowled on 82.
Roy had further luck before finally slicing Bishoo to short third man. Root put on 116 with Eoin Morgan, who made an enterprising 51-ball 65, but found an equally willing accomplice in Nurse, who misread a hat-trick of takeable chances to leave England's finisher in position until the closing moments.
England have now completed 10 successful chases of 300+ in ODIs, tied with Sri Lanka, and second only to India’s 18.
The second ODI, also at Barbados, takes place on Friday, 22 February.
Brief Scores: England 364/4 in 48.4 overs (Jason Roy 123, Joe Root 102, Eoin Morgan 65, Jason Holder 2/63) beat West Indies 360/8 (Chris Gayle 135, Shai Hope 64, Ben Stokes 3/37, Adil Rashid 3/74) by 6 wickets.
(With inputs from AP)
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