Livingstone century sets up series-levelling England win

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

ENGLAND’S STAND-IN captain Liam Livingstone scored a breathtaking, maiden One Day International century to steer his side to an impressive five-wicket victory over the West Indies and level their three-match series yesterday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Livingstone cracked an unbeaten 124 from 85 balls and England completed the second-highest successful run chase in the Caribbean by overhauling the home side’s challenging 328 for six in 50 overs, finishing on 329 for five off 47.3 overs.

His heroic efforts overshadowed a brilliant century from West Indies captain Shai Hope and set up a winner-takes-all game in the final ODI at Kensington Oval on Wednesday.

Hope had earlier ended his lean run of form by scoring 117 from 127 balls, as the West Indies posted their 22nd highest ODI total of all time and sixth highest at home.

But Livingstone tore the West Indies’ bowling attack to shreds in the final 10 overs of the innings with England needing to score at 10 runs an over.

Their victory was set up by a solid batting performance by England’s top order, with three batsmen scoring half centuries.

West Indies were in control early on when Matthew Forde accounted for Will Jacks for 12 and Shamar Joseph, who was making his ODI debut, had Jordan Cox caught behind for just four to leave the visitors 63-2 in the 12th over.

Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell added 44 runs for the third wicket to lift England out of trouble, before Salt lofted Forde into the hands of Gudakesh Motie at mid-off to be out for a well-played 59 from 59 balls.

His dismissal brought Livingstone to the crease and, together with Bethell, they steadied the innings in a 53-run partnership.

Livingstone started nervously, edging a delivery from Joseph past the wicketkeeper and a wide first slip for four, but he quickly found his groove, hoisting Forde over square leg for six the next over.

Bethell, a left-handed Barbadian, was not to be left out, hitting Roston Chase for two successive boundaries and a six in the 26th over to bring up his maiden ODI half century in his seventh match.

However, Chase got his revenge soon after, having Bethell caught at long off by Jayden Seales for 55 from 57 balls, as England slipped to 160 for four in the 28th over.

Sam Curran’s arrival signalled the end of West Indies’ dominance, with their 140-run fifth-wicket partnership essentially sealing the contest.

Livingstone, who had batted cautiously, eventually brought up his 50 off 60 balls when he hit Motie down the ground for four in the 41st over and followed it up with a six over deep midwicket.

With England in need of quick runs, Livingstone smashed Motie for consecutive sixes in the 43rd over that leaked 16 runs to ease some of the pressure.

He then took fast bowler Jayden Seales to the market in the 45th over, clobbering him for two sixes and two fours in an over that yielded 26 runs.

Livingstone brought up his first ODI century in 32 ODIs when he drove Forde for a single off the 77th ball he faced.

Curran would have been disappointed when he hit Forde’s next delivery straight to Shimron Hetmyer at deep backward point to be out for a run-a-ball 52, with the score now 300 for five in the 46th over.

But Livingstone ensured there would be no late game comeback from the Windies, blasting 24 runs from the 46th over bowled by Joseph to bring England within touching distance of victory.

He then fittingly ended the contest by gathering a single of Forde. In all, he struck nine sixes and five fours in his innings.

Forde was the best West Indies bowler, with 3-48 from 8.3 overs.

Earlier, after losing the toss and being sent in to bat, the Windies would have been confident after posting a formidable total.

They lost Brandon King (7) and Evin Lewis for four to be 12 for two at one stage, but Keacy Carty and Hope staged a fightback in a 143-run partnership.

Carty looked set for a big score before he was bowled by a googly from leg-spinner Adil Rashid for 71.

Hope then teamed up with the in-form Sherfane Rutherford to add 79 runs in quick time.

Rutherford scored his fourth ODI fifty in five matches, but recklessly lost his wicket after making 54, trying to hit Livingstone out of the ground off successive deliveries.

Hope brought up his 17th ODI century when he drove pacer Saqib Mahommod for a single to tie Desmond Haynes for the third most by a West Indian, behind only Brian Lara (19) and Chris Gayle (25).

He was eventually dismissed for 117 from 127 balls, inclusive of eight boundaries and two sixes, before cameos from Shimron Hetmyer and Matthew Forde carried the West Indies to their eventual total.