Twitter Reactions: Lewis, Motie topple England in first ODI

West Indies and England locked horns in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on October 31. 

West Indies’s skipper Shai Hope called it correctly at the toss and opted to field first. The hosts were coming into the fray after a disappointing series loss at the hands of Sri Lanka and were looking to rejuvenate their confidence.

England openers Phil Salt and Will Jacks started cautiously on a tricky wicket and put up a 39-run stand before Jayden Seales dismissed the first English batter in terms of Salt who was batting on 18. Subsequently in Seales’ next over, he got rid of Jacks (19) and put the tourists in a tricky position. 

From there, Jordan Cox and Jacob Bethell started promisingly and played some big shots but Cox walked back after adding just 17 runs to the tally. Bethell was next joined by skipper Liam Livingstone and were looking to take their side to a big score. In the pursuit of a high total, Bethell lost his wicket and walked back after a 33-ball 27 knock.

Next walked in all-rounder Sam Curran who quickly built a partnership with his skipper and took the tourists’ score over 150. Both the batters had a 72-run stand until Gudakesh Motie took the big wicket of Livingstone. The English skipper walked back after adding crucial 48 runs and laced his innings with three boundaries and two sixes. The hosts then quickly wrapped up the English tail including the big wicket of Curran (37). Though the side somehow managed to go past the 200-run mark but was well short of a defendable target.  

The Three Lions set a target of 210 runs. For the hosts, Gudakesh Motie was the wrecker-in-chief with the ball, claiming four crucial wickets. Matthew Forde, Seales, and Alzarri Joseph also chipped in with two wickets each. 

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Meanwhile, the rain gods delayed the commencement of the game, which was eventually shortened to 35 overs with a revised target of 157. 

West Indies started the chase promisingly as openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis put up a solid 118-run stand and put the side in a commendable position to win the game. Though King played a brief knock of 30 it was his partner Lewis who played a brilliant 94-run knock.

The southpaw smashed five boundaries and eight towering sixes to put his team in a comfortable position. Though England bowlers got the wicket of both the openers it was too late as Keacy Carty (19) and skipper Hope (6) did the needful and finished the game with eight wickets and 55 balls to spare. For England, Adil Rashid and captain Livingstone picked a wicket each

With the win, West Indies have gone 1-0 up in the series. Meanwhile, the visitors will look to come back stronger in the second game of the series on November 02.

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