2nd ODI
Liam Livingstone’s standout performance has helped the England team to level the series
West Indies scored 328/6 in 50 overs, where as England scored 329/5 in 47.3 overs.
So, finally England beat West Indies by 5 wickets.
After conceding a lead in the opening ODI, England bounced back in the second game with a strong all-round performance, securing a five-wicket win in Antigua to level the series.
West Indies, led by Shai Hope’s 117, posted a challenging total of 328/6, with half-centuries from Keacy Carty and Sherfane Rutherford contributing to the score.
However, England’s captain, Liam Livingstone, starred with an unbeaten 124 off 85 balls, including five fours and nine sixes, guiding his side to victory in 47.3 overs.
England’s chase started shakily as they lost two wickets within the first 12 overs.
Will Jacks fell to a short ball from Matthew Forde, and Jordan Cox was dismissed for a top-edged pull off Shamar Joseph, leaving England at 63/2.
Phil Salt, however, continued to find the boundary, reaching a quick-fire 50 off 42 balls.
He was dismissed for 59 by Forde, bringing Jacob Bethell and Livingstone together.
Bethell contributed a quick 51 off 51 balls before falling to Roston Chase, who had been hit for several boundaries by Bethell earlier.
Sam Curran joined Livingstone at the crease and started positively, striking a six and a four off Gudakesh Motie.
However, the West Indies bowlers tightened their grip, restricting England to just two boundaries in the middle overs.
With 100 runs needed from the final 10 overs, Livingstone shifted gears.
By the 40th over, he was on 46 off 57 balls, but by the 45th over, he had raced to 99 from 76 deliveries.
He launched a brutal assault on Motie, smashing three sixes and a four in two overs, while also plundering 26 runs off Jayden Seales in the 45th over with two sixes and two fours.
Livingstone brought up his maiden ODI century off 77 balls, and by this time, Curran had also reached fifty.
The pair put on a match-winning 140-run partnership.
Forde claimed Curran’s wicket, but Livingstone continued to dominate, smashing three sixes and a four in the 47th over off Joseph to seal the victory.
England reached their target with two singles in the 48th over, with Livingstone finishing unbeaten to level the series.
Earlier, West Indies had made a strong start with England opting to bowl.
John Turner dismissed Brandon King and Evin Lewis early, but a well-paced 143-run partnership between Hope and Carty steadied the innings.
Hope and Carty both reached fifties, guiding West Indies to 150 in the 30th over.
Carty eventually fell for 71, but Rutherford’s aggressive 50 off 35 balls propelled West Indies past 200.
Hope continued his excellent innings, reaching his 17th ODI hundred before being dismissed by Jofra Archer in the 47th over.
West Indies managed to score 93 runs in the last 10 overs, but it wasn’t enough to defend their total.
Despite some useful cameos, England’s chase was powered by a brilliant captaincy performance from Livingstone, as they successfully chased down the target to level the series.
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