West Indies win first ODI in Antigua

Opener Evin Lewis blitzed 94 as the West Indies won the first ODI against England in Antigua.

The Trinidadian led from the front, striking five fours and eight sixes in his 69-ball innings, driving his side to within sight of their rain-revised target, falling shortly before the end as he attempted to bring his century up with a six.

His side were chasing a modest target after a new-look tourist side, which featured four debutants including Warwickshire’s Dan Mousley, posted 209 inside 46 overs, with left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie taking 4-41.

Stand-in captain Liam Livingstone struck 48 from 49 deliveries, putting on 72 for the fifth wicket with Sam Curran (37), but they were the only two batters to pass 30 as England struggled to find their rhythm.

With the ball, England seamers Jofra Archer and John Turner, another debutant, frequently troubled Lewis and his fellow opener Brandon King, bowling at high pace and drawing edges.

However they were unable to make a breakthrough and Lewis began to settle, clearing the leg-side boundary on five occasions as he reached 50 from 46 deliveries.

Rain took the two sides off shortly afterwards, but when play resumed with the home side’s target adjusted to 157, Lewis carried on where he left off, falling with his team 13 short of a win.

Captain Shai Hope came to the crease and hit the winning runs in the 26th over to complete a comprehensive victory.

The two teams will meet again at the same ground on Saturday, before a final ODI in Barbados on Wednesday.

West Indies will tour England next summer and the two teams will begin their ODI series at Edgbaston on Thursday 29 May. Early Bird tickets are available now, until midnight on 12 December.

England captain Livingstone said: “I think the test we have to come over the next few games is with the rhythms of 50-over cricket. We have to get up to speed as quickly as possible. We know someone in the top six has to get a big score.

“50 overs is a long time. We wanted to put the West Indies under pressure. Conditions change and it’s up to us to read them and work out what is a good score. We didn’t adapt. West Indies bowled well and we lost wickets at key stages.

“John Turner bowled really well and was unlucky not to get a wicket.”

West Indies skipper Shai Hope added: “Jayden Seales and Matthew Forde set the tone with the new ball, especially in the middle overs. We wanted some early wickets and they did that. The consistency and the discipline was the biggest factor today.

“Evin Lewis is experienced and has been around for a long time. You can see he is a different beast. He’s hungry. I’m glad with the scores he’s getting now.”