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England Crush West Indies in Rain-Affected ODI to Seal 3-0 Series Sweep
Smith, Duckett Lead Explosive Chase After Clinical Bowling Display
In a rain-marred third ODI at The Oval in London, England capped off a dominant performance with a resounding 7-wicket win over West Indies, completing a clean 3-0 series sweep. In a shortened 40-over match, England chased down the revised DLS target of 246 in just 29.4 overs, thanks to explosive knocks from Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett, followed by a blazing cameo from Jos Buttler.
Delayed Start, But Early Wickets for England
Top-Order Collapse Hurts Windies
The match saw an unusual delay due to heavy rain and traffic congestion that held up the West Indies team from reaching the ground on time. After finally getting underway, the Caribbean side was asked to bat first under overcast conditions—conditions that England’s bowlers used to full advantage.
West Indies crumbled to 28/3 in the first seven overs, losing key top-order wickets early. Sherfane Rutherford (70 off 71) and Keacy Carty (29 off 35) attempted to stabilize the innings with a 62-run partnership, but leg-spinner Adil Rashid broke the stand and triggered another collapse. The visitors slumped from 90/3 to 154/7 in quick time, losing their momentum yet again.
Motie and Joseph’s Late Fireworks Lift West Indies to 251
When West Indies looked down and out, Gudakesh Motie (63 off 54) and Alzarri Joseph (41 off 29) ignited a counterattack. The duo stitched together a 91-run stand, unleashing a flurry of boundaries and sixes—10 in total—during their 11-over partnership. Their late resistance ensured that the West Indies crossed the 250-run mark, finishing on 251/9 in 40 overs.
🔗 Related Article: England’s Rising Stars in ODI Cricket
England’s Ruthless Chase: Duckett, Smith, and Buttler Dominate
With the revised DLS target set at 246, England launched a full-throttle chase from the very first over. Openers Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett raced to a 93-run partnership in just 7 overs, tearing apart the Windies’ bowling attack.
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Smith, who was later named Player of the Match, blasted a 28-ball 64, hammering 3 sixes and 10 fours.
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Duckett played a more composed but equally effective role, scoring 58 off 46 deliveries.
Following Smith’s dismissal, Duckett teamed up with Joe Root (44 off 49) for a 62-run stand that maintained England’s grip on the match. Despite a minor slowdown during the middle overs, the hosts were always in control.
Buttler’s Blazing Finish
Once Root fell after taking the team past 200, Jos Buttler took matters into his own hands. The former captain smashed 41 off just 20 balls*, hitting five boundaries and two massive sixes. Alongside Harry Brook (26* off 36), Buttler ensured that England cruised past the finish line with more than 10 overs to spare.
Match Summary
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West Indies: 251/9 in 40 overs
(Sherfane Rutherford 70, Gudakesh Motie 63; Adil Rashid 3/40, Saqib Mahmood 2/48) -
England: 246/3 in 29.4 overs
(Jamie Smith 64, Ben Duckett 58, Jos Buttler 41)*
🏆 Result: England won by 7 wickets (DLS method)
Series Takeaway: England’s Bench Strength Shines
This series highlighted England’s impressive bench strength. Young guns like Jamie Smith and consistent performers like Duckett and Rashid provided glimpses of the team’s ODI depth. With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 looming, England’s selectors will be pleased with the balance and versatility shown in this series.
Meanwhile, West Indies will return home with concerns around their top-order fragility and bowling discipline, especially in high-pressure scenarios.
To know more about how the DLS method worksin rain-affected cricket matches, refer to this official ICC explanation of the DLS method.
