A remarkable Liam Livingstone performance secured England a stunning victory and tied the series in the West Indies, as the visitors successfully chased down a daunting 329 in Antigua. Following England's loss in the first match on Thursday, captain Livingstone urged his team to 'bat smarter'. This is precisely what he meant, as he methodically built his innings to a maiden one-day international century and a match-winning unbeaten 124. His first fifty came off 60 balls, while his second took just 17.
Facing a target of 329 after West Indies captain Shai Hope's impressive 117, England demonstrated the composure that had been missing in their previous match. In addition to Livingstone's century, Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, and Sam Curran all contributed half-centuries. Livingstone and Curran formed the crucial partnership. With 169 needed from 22 overs and four wickets down, England were under pressure but not out of contention. Their 50-run partnership was achieved in 47 balls, but they then slowed down to prolong the contest. For a period, they went 34 balls without a boundary before hitting two in quick succession.
With 10 overs remaining and exactly 100 runs needed, Livingstone took control. Confronted with the left-arm spin of Gudakesh Motie, he smashed three sixes in two overs. This was just the start of Livingstone's aggressive approach. The West Indies' 328 was a record ODI total at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, and it seemed secure until Jayden Seales conceded 22 runs in the 45th over, including two massive sixes. In a matter of moments, the game shifted from favoring the hosts to being in balance and then firmly in England's grasp.
Six weeks earlier, England had dropped Livingstone for the ODIs against Australia, but Jos Buttler's injury provided him with a chance to return. In a candid discussion with managing director Rob Key, Livingstone expressed his frustration at not being given enough responsibility over the past two years. Often batting at seven and bowling a limited number of overs, he hadn't had the opportunity to influence matches. As captain here, he bowled seven overs, batted five, and delivered the finest innings of his career.
However, this was not a flawless performance from England. Their fielding was erratic, with four dropped catches, sloppy errors, and heated exchanges among teammates. For only the second time in their history, England used nine bowlers in an innings. In theory, this was Livingstone being proactive, but it appeared disorganized. Of the four specialist bowlers—Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, and John Turner—only Rashid bowled his full allocation, with the remaining three left with seven overs unbowled. These were instead handled by part-time spinners Dan Mousley, Bethell, and Will Jacks, who went wicketless and conceded 54 runs.
While clarity was absent in the field, it was evident with the bat. The winning moment was swift, as with 26 needed off 24 balls, Livingstone smashed Shamar Joseph for three sixes and a four, leaving just two runs required from the last three overs. A single from Mousley ensured that Livingstone hit the winning runs, raising his arms in triumph. He had always sought more responsibility in the England shirt, and here he demonstrated why.
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
