England crushes West Indies in opening ODI

England defeated the West Indies by 238 runs in the opening match of the One-Day International at Edgbaston.

The comprehensive victory snapped a seven-match losing streak in the format and handed new captain Harry Brook a dream start to his full-time leadership tenure.

Sent into bat, England scored a massive total of 400-8, their highest-ever ODI total at home against the West Indies, thanks to Jacob Bethell, who scored 82 off 53 balls, Ben Duckett 60, Joe Root 57, and Brook 58.

The visitors’ bowling attack struggled throughout the innings, and only Jayden Seales scored 4-84.

The West Indies’ chase collapsed to 162 in just 32.5 overs.

Only Keacy Carty with 22, captain Shai Hope with 25, and a late, unbroken 29 from Seales offered any resistance.

The West Indies lost openers Justin Greaves for four and King for 10 inside 4 overs.

Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton crushed the middle order as the regional side found themselves at 66 for four in the 12th over.

Seales’ late fireworks were in vain, as England sealed a win to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Mahmood scored 3-28, and Overton took 3-41, which dismantled the West Indies’ batting. Brook took five catches.

The victory marked England’s second-largest win by runs in ODIs. Bethell was named Player of the Match for his impressive knock and a crucial 44-ball, 98-run seventh-wicket stand with Will Jacks, who made 39.

Bethell smacked eight fours and five sixes before falling short of a maiden century.

England’s Duckett and Jamie Smith (37) raced to 59 in the first six overs.

Despite two spectacular catches from Brandon King dismissing Smith and Roston Chase removing Duckett, England’s middle continued scoring the runs.