By Rob Barnett
England secured series victory over West Indies on the back of Joe Root and Jos Buttler’s blistering 175-run stand that built a commanding 303 for six.
Root, who batted on regardless of a painful blow to his right hand, registered his first one-day international hundred but Buttler fell one short of the same milestone as they amassed a score that West Indies never seriously threatened to overhaul.
Four strikes in the compulsory powerplay effectively put paid to the hosts’ victory hopes and they eventually succumbed by 25 runs in Antigua, despite Denesh Ramdin’s fighting century.
England’s maiden successful rubber of a difficult winter is particularly impressive given they lost the first game of three by 15 runs. Sunday’s three-wicket win set up today’s decider, which Stuart Broad’s side took control off from the off.
Put into bat on the same pitch that 160 was a winning score on three days earlier, Moeen Ali set the tone with his first senior international fifty to temper Dwayne Bravo’s two wickets in as many balls.
Nikita Miller had Moeen caught and bowled for 55 as the tourists again lost a pair of quick wickets, yet Root and Buttler responded with the highest fifth-wicket ODI partnership at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Having initially consolidated without losing the innings’ tempo, they accelerated in the batting powerplay and did not look back. The youngsters both fell in the last two overs, Buttler being caught and bowled via a skied leading edge for a cruel end to his 84-ball innings.
It was four wickets in as many overs either side of the interval when West Indies’ openers went to Root and Broad. Darren Powell followed to a superb midwicket catch from Ravi Bopara before Lendl Simmons was Broad’s second victim.
Marlon Samuels, recalled as both teams made one change - Eoin Morgan being England’s, stopped to rot but was caught behind off Stephen Parry ahead of contrasting half-century stands.
Ramdin was the common denominator. He was first supported by Dwayne Bravo, who was Buttler’s second victim standing up to the stumps, and then Darren Sammy in a much swifter alliance.
Although Ramdin unfurled some big hits to become the first West Indies wicketkeeper to strike an ODI ton, he ran out of partners and was last out - Tim Bresnan’s third victim - for 128 with 14 balls unused.
Match Scorecard/ Live ball-by-ball commentary
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Post-Match Presentation
A very happy squad! England win 2-1. Now for the T20s! #WIvEngpic.twitter.com/cCFhIeN0F0
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) March 5, 2014
10pm - Joe Root is man of the match for his maiden one-day international ton and wicket in the first over of the reply. He is also man of the series.
Root said: “It was nice to get a good partnership together with Jos (Buttler) and I managed to get a decent score.”
Victorious skipper Stuart Broad said: “For Rooty and Buttler to nearly both get a hundred was a special effort. The last 10 overs were a pleasure to watch and won us the game.”
West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo said: “Once again we lost early wickets so we were always behind the eight-ball.”
West Indies Innings
9.39pm - ENGLAND WIN BY 25 RUNS TO TAKE THE SERIES 2-1!! WICKET! Ramdin b Bresnan 128; West Indies 278 all out, Rampaul 0 - Ramdin launches a six and two fours before being yorked by Bresnan as England prevail with 14 balls unused. Spare a thought for Ramdin, who was brilliant with five maximums and 12 fours.
9.33pm - WICKET! Narine run out 10; WI 263/9 - Sunil Narine gets in on the act with a maximum off Broad, who then does well to run him out at the non-striker’s end later in the over.
9.22pm - WICKET! Miller c sub (Jordan) b Bresnan 10; WI 246/8 - Following Ramdin’s straight six off Tredwell, Miller slices to extra-cover where Chris Jordan holds a dolly catch. England are almost there.
9.18pm - CENTURY! Ramdin (99b 9x4 3x6) - Ramdin flays Parry for a pair of sixes, the second making him the first West Indies wicketkeeper to score a one-day international ton.
9.13pm - CHANCE! - Broad puts down a tricky opportunity, backpedalling at cover, to give Tredwell Ramdin’s scalp.
9.08pm - CHANCE! - After Broad concedes two fours to Ramdin, Stokes cannot make it two catches in the same position off Bresnan as Nikita Miller survives. It was a tough, low opportunity for Stokes.
9.01pm - WICKET! Sammy c Stokes b Bresnan 24; WI 202/7 - Sammy top-edges a hook at Bresnan and is well held on the square-leg boundary by Stokes. That ends a stand of 71 and gives England the breakthrough they needed.
CHANCE! Sammy down the track, Tredwell beats him in the air, but Buttler couldn't gather. Tough stumping chance. 197/6. #WIvEng
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) March 5, 2014
8.51pm - Sammy smites Broad over cover-point for a six to herald a half-century alliance in just 43 balls as the powerplay yields 53. The hosts need 111 from 12 overs.
8.41pm - Although the batting powerplay starts with quiet overs from Parry and Broad, the spinner’s next goes for 20 including a six and three fours. There’s still plenty for the Windies to do though.
8.24pm - Darren Sammy, the Windies’ last real hope, drives Bopara hard through the covers for four. Tredwell responds with an over costing just one, after which the batting powerplay is taken two overs sooner than it has to be.
8.13pm - WICKET! Bravo c Buttler b Bopara 27; WI 131/6 - The right-hander attempts to steer Bopara to third man but succeeds only in being caught behind, Buttler claiming a neat take while standing up to the stumps.
8.09pm - Ramdin and Bravo find three fours between them, two via pulls in Bopara’s opening set of six. Soon after they share a fifty partnership.
7.57pm - Ramdin pulls Parry to the rope, but the hosts have plenty of work to do at 104 for five from half their overs.
7.50pm - Aside from Dwayne Bravo straight-driving Ben Stokes for four, runs continue to be hard to come by for the hosts. Root is off the field, icing his right hand that was struck while batting.
7.37pm - WICKET! Samuels c Buttler b Parry; WI 80/5 - Samuels cuts at left-arm spinner Stephen Parry and is given out caught behind. The batsman reviews, but in vain as there is not enough evidence to overturn the decision.
7.30pm - Samuels breaks the impasse by advancing to Tredwell and launching a massive maximum into the leg side.
7.19pm - Tim Bresnan, who induced an edge from Ramdin that fell just short of first slip, and Tredwell keep it tight for a few overs.
7.09pm - With West Indies’ fifty up, Samuels sublimely strikes James Tredwell for a straight six. The hosts will need a few more of those for victory.
6.56pm - Broad has a confident caught-behind appeal against Denesh Ramdin, who is batting with Samuels, turned down and has no review to turn to. At the end of the over and batting powerplay West Indies are 45 for four.
6.49pm - WICKET! Simmons b Broad 16; WI 43/4 - Later in the over Simmons pulls at Broad only to play on to middle stump. The Windies are in trouble here.
6.46pm - REVIEW! - Broad reviews a caught-behind shout against Simmons but multiple replays prove inconclusive.
6.39pm - WICKET! Bravo c Bopara b Moeen 16; WI 42/3 - The hosts continue to collect a four an over, but Ravi Bopara then holds a stunning catch above his head at midwicket when Bravo lays into Moeen. That was brilliant from Bopara.
6.30pm - West Indies respond positively with more boundaries, Simmons straight-driving Root before Darren Bravo picks up two fours to the off side.
6.16pm - WICKET! Smith c Moeen b Broad; WI 10/2 - Smith pulls Stuart Broad’s first ball straight to Moeen Ali at fine-leg as England make a dream start to the reply. Marlon Samuels heads out to the middle but is sent back because he spent the last part of the first innings off the field so can cannot bat yet. Lendl Simmons is the new man and he pulls Broad for four.
6.13pm - WICKET! Powell b Root 1; WI 10/1 - Joe Root again opens the bowling and Dwayne Smith sweeps him aerially for consecutive fours. Kieran Powell attempts to repeat Smith’s shot but fatally fails to connect.
England Innings
5.27pm - END OF INNINGS! England 303/6; Bopara 5, Bresnan 1 - The tourists post a commanding total on the same pitch that 160 was enough on two days ago. Root and Buttler deserve the bulk of the credit, but Moeen’s first international fifty must not be overlooked.
5.23pm - WICKET! Buttler c & b Rampaul 99; Eng 300/6 - Buttler dives to get on strike via a wide in the last over, but then gets a high leading edge to fall agonisingly short of a first international hundred. His innings took just 84 balls.
5.18pm - WICKET! Root c Darren Bravo c Dwayne Bravo 107; Eng 291/5 - Root tries a reverse-sweep but, with little pace on the ball, chips to short third man, ending a brilliant partnership of 175 alongside Buttler.
5.16pm - Buttler slices Bravo over point for a maximum before a relatively tight over from Narine makes the score 288 for four with two to go.
Last six overs England have gone at 10.67. Exceptional from this pair. #WIvEng
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) March 5, 2014
5.04pm - CENTURY! Root (112b 7x4 0x6) - After Buttler smacks Sammy for six over long-on, Root nudges Bravo for a single to point for his maiden ODI ton, roaring as he gets there. Buttler then cracks Narine for six and four, making his best format total: 78. The 150-run alliance and a free-hit six soon follow.
Record 5th wicket partnership at the Sir Viv Richards stadium for @josbuttler& @joeroot05#WIvENG
— BBC TMS (@bbctms) March 5, 2014
4.47pm - HUNDRED PARTNERSHIP! - Later in Sammy’s over Root and Buttler register a crucial alliance. In the next set of six Root goes to 80, his highest ODI score, and then cracks Lendl Simmons for back-to-back fours.
4.46pm - FIFTY! Buttler (56b 6x4 0x6) - Buttler hits Sammy down the ground for two to become England’s third half-centurion today.
4.44pm - The batting powerplay yields a handy 36 runs as Root twice more finds the rope and Buttler scoops Rampaul over the keeper, almost for six.
4.31pm - CHANCE! - An over after Buttler takes Bravo for four either side of the wicket, he opens the face to Rampaul and Ramdin cannot hold a hard, right-handed opportunity with the batsman on 37.
4.25pm - The batting powerplay is forced with England 173 for four and a fifty partnership shared by Root and Buttler.
4.12pm - REVIEW! - Buttler cuts at Samuels and West Indies successfully appeal for caught behind. However, the wicketkeeper-batsman questions the decision and, after many replays, is reprieved on 22.
4.02pm - FIFTY! Root (68b 3x4 0x6) - Root sweeps Samuels to the rope to bring up an impressive half-century shortly before the tourists reach 30 overs on 150 for four.
3.54pm - Root and Jos Buttler consolidate after the double strike, Buttler picking up a four in consecutive Miller overs.
Australia win by 245 runs with 27 balls of the final day left #SAvAUS
— BBC TMS (@bbctms) March 5, 2014
3.40pm - WICKET! Morgan b Narine 1; Eng 116/4 - Morgan is beaten on the back foot and loses his off bail at the start of a wicket-maiden. West Indies have struck twice in quick succession for a second time.
3.35pm - WICKET! Moeen c & b Miller 55; Eng 115/3 - Moeen drives at Miller, who takes a return catch above his head. That ends a fine first England fifty from Moeen, plus a 78-run alliance, and brings Eoin Morgan to the crease.
Moeen Ali looks a talented and composed player. Test cricketer this summer?
— John Etheridge (@JohnSunCricket) March 5, 2014
3.28pm - FIFTY! Moeen (51b 3x4 1x6) - With England’s hundred up in the 20th over, Marlon Samuels’ first, Moeen slog-sweeps the spinner for six to register his maiden international half-century.
3.24pm - CHANCE! - Denesh Ramdin misses a sharp opportunity to stump Moeen for 43, failing to take Miller’s leg-side wide.
3.20pm - REVIEW! - West Indies review Narine’s lbw shout against Root on 23. The ball hit the right-hander in line but it was going over the stumps.
NEWS | Geoff Miller OBE to become Derbyshire Club President: http://t.co/0dvJBHXxAVpic.twitter.com/qurIYPThnP
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) March 5, 2014
3.13pm - Nikita Miller replaces Sammy, making for an all-spin attack. Moeen and Root are going along nicely and the latter cuts for four to raise a fifty partnership.
2.59pm - Bravo makes a double bowling change, with Darren Sammy and Dwayne Smith coming on. Root opens the face to guide the latter to the third-man rope. Narine soon takes over from Smith.
2.51pm - In bright sun Rampaul completes his over, leaving England 54 for two from the powerplay. No overs have been lost.
2.40pm - The action is officially due to restart at 2.50pm.
2.28pm - The rain has stopped and hopefully play will resume in around 20 minutes.
2.18pm - RAIN STOPS PLAY! Eng 52/2; Moeen 23, Root 7 - A downpour sweeps in midway through the 10th over, sending players and spectators scurrying for cover.
2.07pm - Moeen punishes Rampaul’s poor line by guiding him to the fine-leg boundary. The seamer then gets one to rear off a length at Root, who is struck on the glove and needs on-field treatment.
2pm - WICKET! Stokes c Rampaul b Bravo 0 ; Eng 37/2 - Ben Stokes, another left-hander, attempts to pull his first ball and top-edges to Rampaul at short fine-leg. Joe Root defends the hat-trick ball.
1.58pm - WICKET! Lumb c Narine b Bravo 20; Eng 37/1 - The left-hander cuts uppishly to backward point where Sunil Narine holds a sharp catch.
1.51pm - In windy-but-sunny conditions Moeen elegantly drives Bravo off the back foot for a boundary, taking England to 34 for none from five overs.
1.41pm - Moeen, playing in just his third senior international game, punches Bravo for his second three today, this one straight of mid-on. Lumb then effortlessly flicks Rampaul over the midwicket rope and cover-drives him for four.
1.30pm - Moeen Ali and in-form Michael Lumb are in the middle and the action is under way. Each scores a single in Dwayne Bravo’s opening over. Lumb drives the last ball of Ravi Rampaul's first set of six through point for four.
Pre-Play News
1.15pm - The series decider is just 15 minutes away. Why not pass the time by reading our interview with James Anderson, who spoke ahead of Lancashire’s pre-season tour that he will partake in?
1.02pm - WEST INDIES WIN THE TOSS AND BOWL! - Stuart Broad confirms Morgan’s return, with Luke Wright dropping out and Ben Stokes promoted to number three, is England’s only change. The hosts also make a sole alteration with fit-again Marlon Samuels back in place of Kirk Edwards.
Eng: Moeen Ali, Lumb, Stokes, Root, Morgan, Buttler, Bopara, Bresnan, Broad, Tredwell, Parry #WIvEng
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) March 5, 2014
Same pitch for 3rd ODI as for the first two here in Antigua. We're off and spinning on TMS cricket from 1.15 UK. pic.twitter.com/kukFo2JNSA
— Simon Mann (@Cricket_Mann) March 5, 2014
12.50pm - As you’ll see from the below Twitter pic, Eoin Morgan is set to return after missing the first two ODIs with a knee problem.
12.45pm - Like for the previous two games, the toss will be in 15 minutes and the action will start at 1.30pm. While waiting, why not read and watch Ravi Bopara’s preview of the series decider?
Here's @Eoin16 lining up #WIvEngpic.twitter.com/M8FYESWfoW
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) March 5, 2014
12.35pm - Hello and welcome to ecb.co.uk’s live blog coverage of the deciding one-day international between West Indies and England at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.