England vs West Indies 4th ODI: Lewis’ career-best knock goes in vain as heavy rain sees England escape with narrow win

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Evin Lewis century West Indies England cricket

Evin Lewis struck his second ODI hundred, but it was not enough to lead the West Indies to victory

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Evin Lewis made the fourth-highest score by a West Indian player in ODI history, but it still wasn’t enough to lead his side to victory as England managed to claim a six-run win via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at The Oval.

West Indies skipper Jason Holder provided excellent support, smashing a career-best 77, but Jason Roy’s 84, coupled with Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali’s 43 and 48 respectively, saw England escape with a win and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

Choosing to bowl first, England only needed four balls to take their first wicket as West Indies opener Chris Gayle was caught by Joe Root at first slip off the bowling of Chris Woakes for just two runs.

Shai Hope and Marlon Samuels did not have much of an impact either as they made 11 and one respectively before they were both sent packing by Woakes.

Lewis and Jason Mohammed stemmed the bleeding with a 117-run partnership, during which Lewis sailed past his fifty, before Mohammed was caught behind off the bowling of Adil Rashid for 46.

Lewis and Holder kept the runs flowing with a 168-run stand, during which Lewis brought up his hundred and Holder his half-century.

Jason Holder half-century West Indies England cricket

Jason Holder scored his fourth ODI fifty

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

With the pair causing mayhem at the crease, the West Indies were finally beginning to amass a score that would pose a serious threat to England.

However, disaster struck when Lewis was on 176 as he had to be stretchered off the field after edging the ball onto his ankle.

Lewis, who was later found to have suffered a hairline fracture, had to retire hurt on 176, which came off 130 balls and included 17 boundaries and seven sixes.

Holder and Rovman Powell, who scored an unbeaten 28, gave the West Indies a major push in the last few overs before Holder was dismissed by Liam Plunkett on the final ball of the innings for 77, which came off 62 deliveries and included four boundaries and four sixes.

Thanks to Lewis and Holder, the West Indies finished on 356/5 off their 50 overs.

Woakes was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Rashid and Plunkett chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Chasing 357 to win, Jason Roy took charge of England’s innings right from the get-go as he and Jonny Bairstow amassed a 126-run partnership.

With Roy playing the role of the aggressor and Bairstow being more defensive, England were cruising.

However, in the 18th over, Roy was caught behind off the bowling of Alzarri Joseph for 84, which came off 66 balls and included 11 boundaries and two sixes.

Bairstow, who made 39, suffered the same fate a few overs later.

Root only scored 14 before he was on his way back to the pavilion, while captain Eoin Morgan mustered 19 runs before falling to Joseph as well.

England’s collapse continued when Sam Billings was brilliantly caught by Gayle at slip to give Joseph his maiden five-for in ODI cricket.

But, just as the West Indies had clawed their way back into the game, Buttler and Moeen rescued England with an unbeaten 77-run partnership in eight overs before the rain came.

Buttler and Moeen’s partnership proved crucial as England were declared winners after the rain refused to relent.

Buttler finished on 43 off 35 balls, which included five boundaries, while Moeen remained undefeated on 48 off 25 deliveries, which included six boundaries and two sixes.

Joseph took all five wickets that England lost during their innings.

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