Caribbean (Commonwealth) _ The West Indies won a four-wicket win in the first ODI series opener in Antigua, England’s first match following their World Cup failure.
Jos Buttler’s much-changed line-up were dismissed for 325 with the penultimate ball of the innings, less than a month after England’s limp world title defence in India, where they were ousted in the group stage following six losses in nine matches. Harry Brook top-scored with 71.
Buttler’s team appeared to be on their way to win when they were reduced to 213-5 with less than 12 overs remaining, only for West Indies skipper Shai Hope and big-hitting Romario Shepherd to produce a quickfire sixth-wicket partnership to seal the triumph.
As West Indies chased down their winning target in spectacular fashion and with seven balls to spare, Shepherd struck 48 and put on 89 with Hope, who finished unbeaten on 109 and concluded the innings with back-to-back sixes.
After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Phil Salt (45) and Will Jacks (26) got England off to a flying start, putting on a 77-run stand inside nine overs before falling in rapid succession.
Salt hit five fours and three sixes before being removed when he lofted Gudakesh Motie to Keacy Carty at cover, with Jacks caught behind off Oshane Thomas the next over.
Yannic Cariah bowled Ben Duckett (20), and Zak Crawley was almost taken by the same bowler when on 30, but Motie missed a straightforward chance at long-on, allowing Crawley to reach 48 before being run out after a massive mix-up with Brook.
Brook raced after Buttler was out for three runs to leave England 191-5, scoring his third ODI half-century and partnering for a 23-run over with Liam Livingstone (17) before the latter was caught lbw by Shepherd.
Shepherd then removed Brook with a straightforward catch at mid-off, only for Sam Curran (38) and Brydon Carse (31 not out) to put on 66 in 38 balls down the order to boost England’s total.
Curran was run out chasing a short single, and Rehan Ahmed (12) and Gus Atkinson (0) were also out in the last over by Thomas (2-57), but England’s total remained their greatest ODI total at the venue.
The hosts also got off to a solid start, with Alick Athanaze and Brandon King putting on a century partnership, forcing England to convert from pace to spin, with the West Indies reaching 104 when Athanaze (66) was caught lbw by Ahmed.
Livingstone (1-50) bowled King (35) soon after as just 11 runs came from a six-over period, giving England the lead, before Carse claimed Carty lbw with the first delivery of his second stint, reducing the West Indies to 144-3.
Shimron Hetmyer (32) was bowled by Atkinson to break a 56-run stand with Hope, who reached his half-century with a massive six, while Rutherford (six) had a lbw appeal overruled but was dismissed the next Rehan delivery when he holed out to Brook at mid-wicket.
Shepherd hit 48 off 27 deliveries following a boundary burst, but was caught by Atkinson in the 48th over, before Hope smashed Curran (0-98) for three sixes in the last over to secure a historic triumph.
The series continues in Antigua with the second ODI on Wednesday at the same venue (5.30pm start), before the third and final ODI on Saturday in Barbados. A five-match T20 series will then begin on December 12 in Barbados, followed by two games in Grenada (December 14 and 16) and two more in Trinidad and Tobago (December 19 and 21).
