Liam Livingstone displayed a brilliant display of talent and perseverance to give England a much-needed win and level the series against their archrivals. Livingstone’s brilliant all-round performance played a key role in helping England come back from a difficult situation and level the series in the match.
The match was played in a stadium packed with excited fans. After losing the first ODI, England bounced back in the second match, winning by five wickets in Antigua to level the series. Half-centuries from Keacy Carty and Sherfane Rutherford, along with skipper Shai Hope’s 117, put the West Indies on a difficult target of 328/6.
However, skipper Liam Livingstone hit an unbeaten 124 off 85 balls to help England win in 47.3 overs, hitting five fours and nine sixes.
Scores
- West Indies: 328/6 (50 overs)
- England: 329/5 (47.3 overs)
- Winner: England won by 5 wickets
- A Match Set on a Knife-Edge
The pressure on both teams was palpable as they walked onto the field. England knew they needed to put up a great show in the final match of the series to stay in contention.
Seeking to exploit England’s problems, their opponent was also eager to win the series. Although the balanced conditions indicated a close match, expectations of a great match were high as the pitch demanded it.
England’s Struggling Start with the Bat
The England team was under initial pressure and had to struggle a lot while batting first. The opening pair could not reach a strong position due to the continuous fall of wickets. England found itself in a weak position as its main players failed to give a solid start. The chances of a strong score were very far away.
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That’s when Livingstone stepped up to the crease. Known for his aggressive yet calculative approach, he steadied the innings alongside the middle-order batsman, Joe Root. Together, they rebuilt the innings, rotating the strike effectively and dispatching bad deliveries to the boundary.
England Sets a Competitive Target
After settling in, Livingstone repeatedly hit the ball into the stands with his characteristic power hitting. He put pressure on the bowlers to move the scoreboard forward by identifying holes and taking advantage of field placements. Thanks to Livingstone’s brilliant performance, England managed to reach a competitive target of 329.
While England’s top order struggled, the combined efforts of Root and Livingstone ensured they had enough runs to defend. The bowlers would have to perform at their peak, but the target was one that gave them a chance to stay in the series.
Livingstone Leads England to Thrilling Chase
Will Jacks was caught off a poor, short ball from Matthew Forde, and Jordan Cox dismissed Shamar Joseph to leave England at 63/2 for the loss of two wickets in the opening 12 overs. Meanwhile, Phil Salt continued to drive to the boundary, adding a four to his half-century off 42 balls.
But, when Salt was dismissed by Ford for 59, Jacob Bethell and Livingstone put together a solid combination, with Livingstone completing his half-century off 51 balls. The batsman mistimed a loft and was eventually dismissed by Roston Chase, who was hit for two fours and a six in an over by Bethell.
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Sam Curran got off to a good start after joining Livingstone, hitting a six and a four in one over against Gudakesh Motie. However, the West Indies did a good job of easing the pressure on England by cracking boundaries in the 30-40 overs, during which only two fours were hit.
When England needed to score 100 runs in the final ten overs, Livingstone kicked into overdrive. At the end of the 40th over, Livingstone was 46 off 57 balls, and by the end of the 45th over, he was 99 off 76 balls. Livingstone attacked thick and fast, smashing three sixes and a four in two overs.
In the 45th over, England sealed the win with a crucial 26-run over from Jayden Seales, in which Livingstone smashed two sixes and two fours. By that time, Curran had also scored fifty, and when Livingstone completed his maiden ODI century with a single off 77 balls, the duo extended their partnership to 140 runs.
Livingstone smashed three sixes and a four off Joseph in the 47th over to deny West Indies any chance of a comeback, but Forde took his third wicket by dismissing Curran. With the help of their captain, England achieved the second-highest target in the Caribbean region and sealed their place in the series thanks to a few singles in the 48th over.
Hope and Carty Power West Indies to Big Total
When England decided to bowl first, they got off to a good start thanks to early wickets from John Turner, who dismissed Brandon King and Evin Lewis. However, a steady 143-run partnership between Hope and Carty gave West Indies a solid foundation on which to post a respectable score.
Hope and Carty helped West Indies reach 41/2 after 10 overs after a shaky score of 12/2 in the fourth over. After 20 overs, West Indies slowly reached 85/2 as England bowled some tight overs and minimized boundary opportunities. Then, Hope and Carty played freely and piled up the number of boundaries as both batsmen scored half-centuries and put on a century partnership to help West Indies cross 150 by the end of the 30th over.
However, Carty’s performance came to an end when the player was bowled by Adil Rashid for 71 off 77 balls. However, Rutherford took a positive approach and completed his half-century off 35 balls and top-scored in a 79-run partnership with Hope.
Livingstone’s All-Round Heroics Shine
Livingstone’s impact was significant not just in terms of runs and wickets but also in motivating and encouraging his teammates. His mature development as a cricketer who can handle bat and ball with equal dexterity is demonstrated by his tough performance under pressure. The England captain praised Livingstone’s contribution after the game. “He was quite brilliant today. His bowling changed the game when we needed it most, and his innings gave us momentum,” the captain commented.
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