NORTH SOUND, Antigua – Evin Lewis unleashed an incredible display of power-hitting on Thursday, smashing eight sixes in his 94-run knock to steer the West Indies to a dominant eight-wicket win over England in the rain-affected first One-Day International (ODI).
Lewis’ 69-ball performance eclipsed England’s total sixes and pushed the West Indies ahead in the three-match ODI series.
England, batting first on a pitch that proved difficult for most, managed just 209 runs before being bowled out in 45.1 overs. First-time captain Liam Livingstone’s 48, including two sixes, marked their top score, supported by Sam Curran’s 37 in a 72-run partnership for the fifth wicket. However, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie’s 4-41 anchored a disciplined West Indies bowling attack that kept England’s innings contained.
Lewis’ aggressive approach
Rain halted the West Indies’ chase briefly, cutting their innings by 15 overs but lowering their target to 157 under the Duckworth-Lewis method. By then, Lewis’ aggressive approach had already put them firmly in control, racing to 81 without loss when rain stopped play. His half-century came off just 46 balls, and he seemed primed for back-to-back hundreds following his recent unbeaten 102 against Sri Lanka before he was dismissed 13 runs shy of the revised target.
Partnered with Brandon King, who scored 30, Lewis’ 118-run opening stand all but sealed the win for the West Indies. Keacy Carty later closed the innings with an unbeaten 19, allowing the hosts to wrap up the chase with 9.1 overs to spare.
Conditions at Sir Viv Richards Stadium proved challenging, with seamers and spinners alike finding grip that made strokeplay difficult. Jayden Seales claimed early wickets, as England batters struggled to adapt, including Livingstone, whose solid 48 ended when he misjudged a delivery from Motie.
The two teams are set to clash again in the second ODI on Saturday, followed by the third match on Wednesday before the series shifts to a five-match T20 format.
