Evin Lewis showcased his batting prowess with a remarkable innings as the West Indies decisively defeated England by eight wickets in the first one-day international held in Antigua. Following his previous century against Sri Lanka, Lewis scored 96 runs off just 69 balls, which included five fours and eight sixes. His explosive performance brought the West Indies close to their target at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, where he fell just short of a hundred while attempting to hit a six.
England, batting first, struggled to find their footing and managed only 209 runs before being bowled out in 45.1 overs. Liam Livingstone was the standout performer for England, scoring 48 runs off 49 balls, while Sam Curran contributed 37 runs. The left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie was instrumental for the West Indies, taking four wickets for 41 runs.
The England bowlers, including Jofra Archer and debutant John Turner, posed challenges for the West Indies' opening pair of Lewis and Brandon King. Despite creating opportunities with their pace and movement, they could not secure an early wicket. Lewis reached his fifty off 46 balls and continued to build momentum until rain interrupted play. When the match resumed, the revised target for the West Indies was set at 157.
Lewis resumed his aggressive batting after the rain delay but was dismissed just 13 runs shy of victory when he attempted another big hit. Captain Shai Hope entered the game and finished things off by scoring the winning runs in the 26th over.
This match marked a challenging start for Livingstone as a stand-in captain leading a young England team. He lost the toss and had to bat first on a pitch that provided considerable swing and grip for bowlers. Openers Phil Salt and Will Jacks managed only a combined total of 39 runs before falling victim to Jayden Seales’ tight bowling.
Other batsmen like Jordan Cox and Jacob Bethell struggled to make an impact as well. Livingstone temporarily raised hopes with his innings but fell short of a fifty after a promising start. The spin bowling from Motie proved effective as he claimed four wickets in quick succession before Alzarri Joseph wrapped up the innings.
Although Lewis had an initial struggle alongside King, they eventually formed a significant partnership of 118 runs. King’s dismissal opened the door for Lewis’s exit soon after but by then, victory was already well within reach for the West Indies. The two teams will face off again on Saturday at the same venue before heading to Barbados for their final ODI on Wednesday.
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