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Giles toasts series success

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Ashley Giles welcomed the presence of a feel-good factor in the England camp after his limited-overs squad sealed a one-day international series triumph in Antigua.

Following a challenging winter across all formats, England made it back-to-back wins over West Indies with a 25-run victory that saw them take the three-match rubber 2-1.

A trio of Twenty20 internationals in Barbados are next on the agenda as preparations for the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh gather pace, but Giles was keen to point out the importance of a return to winning ways.

“There’s always plenty of work to do but to get over the line the other night and to win today is fantastic for the team,” he told Sky Sports 2.

“It’s been quite a tough few months for everyone and to win a series again at last is a good feeling.”

“(It was) a great performance, from a relatively young and inexperienced side to come back and win this series against a really competitive West Indies side, and they’ve played some really exciting good cricket.

Joe Root put a blow on the thumb behind him to register a superb century, but Ashley Giles confirmed the player will undergo an X-ray

“It’s great for the team and everyone with how hard they’ve worked in the last week or so.”

The backbone of England’s 303 for six was provided by Joe Root and Jos Buttler, who combined in a magnificent stand of 175 for the fifth wicket.

Root’s superbly-paced knock brought up a maiden ODI century - a landmark Buttler would fall one run shy of having unfurled his trademark array of strokes.

“That was really good from the young guns in the batting order, particularly that partnership between Root and Buttler,” said Giles.

“It was a real Lionhearted effort from Joe. He took a nasty hit on the thumb. To go back out there and get a hundred, that’s a really good innings under pressure.”

Root required extensive treatment after a sharp, lifting delivery from Ravi Rampaul struck him early in his innings and Giles revealed the Yorkshireman would undergo X-rays assess the extent of the damage.

He added: “He’ll have an X-ray either tonight or tomorrow morning and we’ll know more then. Fingers crossed he’ll be fit and firing.”

A blistering 128 from West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin kept the hosts in with a fighting chance until the death.

But, having been sent for a six and two fours from the previous three deliveries, England seamer Tim Bresnan responded by bowling Ramdin with a perfect leg-stump yorker to end the innings – much to the delight of captain Stuart Broad.

"It was a brilliant yorker, but it wasn't that far from going for four as well - missing the leg-stump,” Broad said.

"Bressie's strength is yorker bowling, and when under pressure that should be the ball he goes to. He bowled brilliantly today.”

Broad went on to echo Giles’ thoughts on a timely boost to the national team.

He added: "Obviously this is going to lift the boys. This group we've had in Antigua, the morale has been awesome throughout the whole two weeks.

"The guys have held themselves brilliantly to come away with a series win."


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