A day that began with England’s players taking walks and cycling around before the match quickly turned into a dominant display of batting and fielding, culminating in a convincing seven-wicket victory over the West Indies. Despite delays caused by traffic and an abbreviated match due to rain, England’s explosive approach, led by Jamie Smith’s quickfire 64, ensured they comfortably chased down the revised target with plenty of time to spare.
The series concluded much like it started: with England in full control. While the middle match was more competitive, this final game saw a vastly improved performance from the home side, particularly compared to the sloppy fielding shown in the previous game. The openers led the charge this time, both reaching rapid half-centuries after a disappointing showing with the bat in Cardiff.
Smith, who arrived at the ground by train, wasted no time after stepping out to bat. He smashed 64 runs off just 28 balls, with nearly half of those deliveries sent to the boundary. Although his first boundary came off an inside edge, he quickly found his rhythm, playing crisp, controlled shots that pressured the West Indies bowlers from the outset. England raced to 50 runs in just 28 legal deliveries, with Smith already on 41 and Ben Duckett barely getting started. By the end of the shortened eight-over powerplay, England had reached 100 runs, signaling their intent to dominate.
Smith’s approach impressed his teammate Harry Brook, who praised his ability to play proper cricketing shots rather than merely slogging. Brook highlighted Smith’s skill in putting bowlers under pressure, manipulating the field, and scoring significant runs, all of which contributed to England’s rapid start.
A bit of fortune also came England’s way. Smith was dropped at midwicket off the first ball of Gudakesh Motie’s opening over who himself had earlier dropped Duckett. However, Motie took some revenge by dismissing Smith with the last ball of that same over, though not before Smith had blasted 20 runs off the four balls in between.
At this stage, England’s required run rate had dropped from a challenging 6.15 per over to a more manageable pace, easing the pressure on the batsmen. Duckett, who was on 58 off 46 balls, eventually fell attempting a sharp drive, but by then England was well on course for victory.
Brook too was given a lifeline, being dropped in what was otherwise a disappointing day for West Indies’ fielders. The home side’s superiority was further cemented by Jos Buttler’s explosive cameo, scoring 41 runs with 32 coming from boundaries, sealing the win with a comfortable margin and 62 balls to spare.
For West Indies, the day was a struggle from the start. Some players appeared underprepared, likely affected by their late arrival and disrupted routines. Shai Hope and Roston Chase both lasted only one ball each, with Chase falling to his first delivery for the second time in three days.
West Indies’ fielding woes continued, with a few missed chances costing them dearly. Brydon Carse managed a superb sprint to his left at square-leg to attempt a catch off Sherfane Rutherford, but despite his effort, he couldn’t hold on, and Rutherford’s powerful six carried beyond the boundary.
Rutherford himself was a bright spot for West Indies, showing no signs of jet lag or fatigue after recently completing his Indian Premier League commitments thousands of miles away. He quickly settled in, hitting 70 off 71 balls with two sixes and several fours, showcasing the kind of form that has earned him a strikingly high average in the one-day format.
Rutherford’s aggressive batting was complemented by useful contributions from Gudakesh Motie, who scored 63 runs off 54 balls, and Alzarri Joseph, who added a handy 41. Their efforts helped West Indies recover from early setbacks falling to 28 for three and later 154 for seven and post a total of 251 runs. However, the total was adjusted by the DLS method to 246 runs for England to chase in 40 overs.
Despite the recovery, the target proved too modest against England’s dynamic opening pair, who smashed the chase from the outset and ensured a clean sweep of the series with a dominant performance on a day that began so calmly but ended in emphatic fashion.
