West Indies secured a four-wicket victory over England in the third one-day international (ODI) in Barbados, ultimately clinching the series 2-1. The match, originally scheduled to start, faced a two-hour delay due to inclement weather. 

Seamer Matthew Forde, playing in his first international match, showed that he was built for the challenge after he took three wickets early in the game. This proved very successful in the long run as it helped weaken England. 

England’s recovery was spearheaded by the determined efforts of Ben Duckett, who crafted a resilient 71 to guide his team to a total of 206-9 from 40 overs after facing additional rain delays. Another downpour left West Indies with a revised target of 188 from 34 overs, setting the stage for a potentially comfortable victory.

West Indies looked on course for a straightforward win, thanks to a composed half-century from Keacy Carty. However, England had other plans and staged a remarkable comeback. Spinner Will Jacks played a pivotal role, taking 3-22 as the spinners wreaked havoc on the West Indies batting lineup. The game appeared to be heading for a nail-biting finish.

An over from Gus Atkinson later in the match brought a shift in the game, giving the Windies their first chance that they might win. It was then left to Romario Shepherd, 41 from 28 balls, to drive them to victory, securing an ODI series 2-1 win for the home team. 

The weekend’s victory marked a historic achievement as West Indies had the chance to celebrate their first ODI home series win over England since 1998.

As the ODI series concludes, both teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming five-match T20 series set to commence on Tuesday, also in Barbados. The limited-overs encounters between West Indies and England was quite thrilling, as it gave fans of both sides what they wanted. The weather interruptions only added a fun twist to the series without dampening the mood on both sides. 

Leon Osamor