England secure 3-0 series win as Smith and Buttler shine in rain-hit chase
England secure 3-0 series win as Smith and Buttler shine in rain-hit chase
England vs West Indies: England clean sweep the West Indies 3-0 in Harry Brook’s first series as full-time white-ball captain.
England cruised to victory in the final ODI against West Indies at the Kia Oval, sealing a 3-0 series win in style. Their chase of a DLS-adjusted target of 246 was smooth, finishing with 10.2 overs to spare after Jamie Smith’s explosive batting gave them a dominant start.
Fast Start for England
Despite a delay caused by the West Indies team bus arriving late, England wasted no time. Smith smashed 64 off 28 balls, hitting 10 fours and 3 sixes, helping England reach 100/1 in just eight overs. Ben Duckett added 58 off 46, while Joe Root contributed a steady 44. Jos Buttler finished things off with a quick 41 off 20 balls*, ending the chase with a winning six.
Captain Brook’s Perfect Start
This series was a strong beginning for Harry Brook as England’s new ODI captain. His team’s 3-0 sweep helped erase their poor white-ball performances earlier this year. Brook praised his squad, highlighting the deep batting lineup and skilled bowlers.
West Indies Fight Back
West Indies had a tough start, arriving late due to heavy traffic. Their innings was also interrupted by rain delays, making things even harder. Sherfane Rutherford led the resistance with 70, but West Indies struggled, reaching 154/7 when Rutherford fell to a catch by Brook.
Their total of 251 came thanks to a late 91-run partnership between Gudakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph. Motie smashed 5 fours and 3 sixes, including sending Rashid’s hat-trick ball for six. Joseph hit a clean 41, launching massive shots into the stands before getting out late in the innings.
England’s Bowling Strikes Early
England stuck with the same team that won in Cardiff and made quick breakthroughs after choosing to bowl first. Brydon Carse removed Evin Lewis, Matthew Potts dismissed Brandon King, and Saqib Mahmood bounced out Shai Hope. Rutherford and Keacy Carty briefly rebuilt, but a 97-minute rain delay disrupted their flow.
Rutherford’s fine IPL form carried into this match, as he punched clean shots through mid-on. However, once Rashid removed Justin Greaves and Roston Chase, West Indies’ hopes faded. Motie and Joseph hit back, exposing England’s predictable short-ball tactics, but their effort wasn’t enough.
England’s Chase Too Strong
West Indies hoped for early wickets, but their bowlers struggled. Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph bowled erratic spells, allowing Smith to dominate early. He was dropped once but hit consecutive boundaries to punish the bowlers.
Duckett played aggressively, hitting Joseph for sixes and sweeping Motie for three straight boundaries before getting out. Root’s dismissal didn’t matter, as Buttler finished the job, giving Brook a dream start as captain.
With this win, England secured their first ODI series victory since September 2023 and their first clean sweep since beating the Netherlands 3-0. Meanwhile, West Indies now face concerns about 2027 World Cup qualification, as Bangladesh closes in on them in the rankings.