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England sweep WI as Stokes gets revenge

Root, Hales notch tons to complete 3-0 ODI series whitewash while Stokes gets one back on Brathwaite

Ben Stokes settled an old score over World T20 final hero Carlos Brathwaite, as England's charged to a crushing 186-run victory over the West Indies in Barbados.

Centuries from Alex Hales and Joe Root powered England to a comprehensive win over the hapless Windies, sealing a 3-0 series whitewash in the third one-day international.

Stokes, who hadn't bowled to Brathwaite since the powerful West Indian clubbed four consecutive sixes off his final over of the WT20 final to hand the Caribbean side the title, got one back over his tormentor.

King Carlos' final-over miracle

With his first delivery to Brathwaite, the England allrounder struck the right-hander on the pads and while the on-field decision was not out, Stokes had his man after a successful review.

Image Id: 31872C22924C4AA389DB581B78766C74 Image Caption: Stokes appeals for the wicket of Brathwaite // Getty

Replying to the tourists’ total of 328 all out off 50 overs, the home side were bundled out for just 142 off 39.2 overs, suffering their worst margin of defeat ever in a one-dayer against the English and being swept 3-0 by the same opponents for the first time since 1991.

Sidelined for almost two months by a hand injury sustained in India, Hales belted 110 on his return while Root followed up his assured match-winning 90 not out in the second game in Antigua with 101. 

Their second-wicket partnership was worth 192 runs, the most for any wicket in a one-dayer at the Kensington Oval.

"This innings was really special because I wanted to get back into the thick of things," said player-of-the-match Hales.

“It was frustrating being on the sidelines and I was desperately keen to perform.”

Second ODI: England seal series, Finn claims 100th scalp

Seeking to avoid a series sweep and needing rankings points to earn automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup, the West Indies hardly helped their cause by extending the epidemic of dropped catches that afflicted them in the first two matches in Antigua.

Root was missed twice early in his innings, the first lapse by Evin Lewis at midwicket off fast bowler Alzarri Joseph being the easier of the two. They proved very costly.

Joseph, the 20-year-old Antiguan paceman who replaced injured fellow fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, claimed four expensive wickets but looked the most threatening after West Indies captain Jason Holder won the toss for the third consecutive time and chose to put England in. 

First ODI: Finn's quick thinking highlights England's ODI win

He accounted for the attacking Jason Roy in just the sixth over of the innings and should have had more early success but for Lewis’ costly error.

He came back for an effective second spell though and together with Holder, slowed England’s breakneck progress to what looked like being a total well in excess of 350. Holder claimed 3-41 off his ten overs.

However if there was any encouragement from the bit of resistance towards the end of the innings, it all dissipated within the first four overs of the West Indies reply with the top three again succumbing to the England seamers.

Jonathan Carter top-scored with 46 in the middle-order but the match was long over as a contest with man of the series Chris Woakes and fellow fast-medium bowler Liam Plunkett taking three wickets each. 

Towering quick Steve Finn also played his part in the demolition with two wickets while leg-spinner Adil Rashid finished off the affair in bright afternoon sunshine to the delight of thousands of celebrating England supporters.

“This is extremely frustrating, we just didn’t compete in this match,” said a disconsolate Holder in reflecting on another embarrassing setback for his team. 

“I thought we committed too many errors in the field and didn’t bowl consistently well. We can only go forward from this.”