The West Indies dominated the first ODI against England in Antigua, with Evin Lewis leading the charge with a powerful 94 not out. West Indies comfortably chased down England’s total of 209, winning by eight wickets via the DLS method.
England struggled to find their rhythm with the bat, with only stand-in captain Liam Livingstone managing to put together a decent score of 48. The inexperienced English line-up found it challenging to adapt to the conditions in the Caribbean, with spinner Gudakesh Motie taking 4-41 to restrict England to a below-par total.
Despite a strong opening spell from England seamers Jofra Archer and John Turner, they couldn’t break through the West Indies opening pair of Lewis and Brandon King. Lewis, in particular, was in fine form, smashing five fours and eight sixes to guide his team to victory.
The inexperience of the young England side was evident throughout the match, with four debutants in the line-up and key players missing due to injuries and rest. The lack of experience in the 50-over format showed as England struggled to adapt to the longer format of the game.
With the second ODI scheduled to take place at the same ground in Antigua, England will need to regroup quickly and find a way to combat the experienced West Indies side. The series presents an opportunity for the young English players to gain valuable experience and prove themselves on the international stage.
Captain Liam Livingstone acknowledged the challenges faced by the team and emphasized the need to adapt quickly to the rhythms of 50-over cricket. He highlighted the importance of someone in the top six stepping up and scoring big runs to put pressure on the opposition.
West Indies skipper Shai Hope praised his bowlers for setting the tone early in the match and singled out Evin Lewis for his exceptional performance with the bat. Lewis’ hunger and experience were evident as he continually punished the English bowlers with his aggressive stroke play.
As the series progresses, England will need to find a way to compete with the dominant West Indies side and make the most of the limited opportunities to gain experience in the 50-over format. The young players will need to rise to the challenge and show their potential on the international stage to avoid further setbacks in future tournaments.