Will England Maintain ODI Momentum In Barbados?

England produced an outstanding performance in the opening one-day international of their series against the West Indies, chasing down their highest total to win a 50-over contest.

The West Indies were able to put 360 runs on the board thanks to a brilliant innings from Chris Gayle, who blasted a century, including 12 sixes. The home side broke the ODI record for most sixes in an innings in the process, sending the ball over the rope 23 times.

England’s bowlers were toiled, but Ben Stokes was able to hold his own with three wickets for just 37 runs to prevent the Windies from edging towards the 400-run mark.

The Three Lions faced the prospect of chasing down their highest total to win the opener, beating out the 350 runs they successfully attained to beat New Zealand in 2015.

Jason Roy ensured that he got his side off to a flying start. The opener was on form and reached a century with a huge six down the ground. Although he fell for 123, Joe Root carried on the momentum aided by skipper Eoin Morgan.

Root notched his 14^th ODI century to take England within a run before being caught on the boundary. Jos Buttler knocked off the winning runs to take his team over the line. The Three Lions will now look to take charge in the second contest of the series in Barbados.

West Indies’ Top Batsman

England paid the price for dropping Gayle early in his innings. The veteran had yet to find his stride on 32, struggling to time the ball off the middle of the bat. Liam Plunkett drew a false stroke, but Roy failed to take the catch running back at mid-on. Gayle put the England bowlers to the sword from that point onwards, displaying his power by blasting 12 sixes over the rope.

However, he did use up a lot of dot balls that proved to be crucial in his side’s defeat. Gayle lacked fluency compared to Shai Hope, who was more consistent in his effort at the crease. Hope has taken a liking to playing against England, producing impressive performances against the Three Lions. He continued his run with a half-century at Bridgetown, notching 64 runs before he was dismissed by Stokes.

However, Hope was far more in control of his innings than Gayle, finding the boundary seven times and clearing the rope once. The wicket-keeper batsman has good value at 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500  with Bet365 to lead the run column for the hosts for the second match of the series.

England’s Top Batsman

Roy is developing into a world-class opener for England, finding a level of consistency at the crease. The 28-year-old has scored three centuries in his last 12 ODI innings. He has worked hard to cement his spot alongside Jonny Bairstow at the top of the innings, amid pressure from Alex Hales. Roy was dropped at the end of the ICC Champions Trophy campaign two years ago, but he has ensured that he will be starting in the World Cup during the summer.

His swashbuckling style was key in getting the Three Lions off to a fast start in their chase. Roy’s ability to score quick runs eases the pressure on Root and the rest of the order to play their natural games. By the time Root arrived at the crease, the required rate was manageable, allowing England to knock the ball around for a spell. Roy is a player that makes the most of his form. He scored a century in the warm-up game and continued his good touch in the opener. Back him to fire again at odds of 4.50Bet €100 to win €4507/2Bet £100 to win £450+350Bet $100 to win $4503.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$4503.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp450-0.2857Bet RM100 to win RM450  with Bet365.

West Indies’ Top Bowler

The West Indies were without Kemar Roach due to a back injury and it appears as though he could miss the rest of the series with the issue. Oshane Thomas lacked the same prowess with the ball in the early stages of the innings, allowing England to get off to their fast start. Bowling was difficult at Bridgetown as both teams could not contain the batsmen in the middle.

Holder did provide a semblance of a threat with ball in hand, notching two wickets, including the scalp of Bairstow. The Windies also dropped a couple of catches that could have improved figures and may even have changed the course of the contest. Without Roach and with their spinners seemingly being ineffective on a bouncy surface, Holder will have to lead from the front again. Back the Windies skipper to lead the way at odds of 4.00Bet €100 to win €4003/1Bet £100 to win £400+300Bet $100 to win $4003.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$4003.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp400-0.3333Bet RM100 to win RM400  with 888Sport.

England’s Top Bowler

Although England’s bowlers were dispatched over the rope for a record number of times, they still did enough to allow the batsmen to chase down the total. Stokes, Adil Rashid and Chris Woakes were on form to negate indifferent outings from Moeen Ali, Mark Wood and Plunkett. Rashid has been England’s key with the ball in the middle overs, striking with regularity. Eoin Morgan trusted his leg-spinner towards the end of the innings, although that proved to have mixed results as Ashley Nurse blasted a couple of sixes, ruining Rashid’s figures.

The Yorkshireman has almost dipped his average under the 30-run mark, which in the current ODI climate would be an impressive feat. It is rare that he fails to take a wicket when he takes to the field. He has been held wicketless only four times in his last 28 matches, stretching back to December 2017. Rashid should lead the wicket column once again for his team at odds of 4.33Bet €100 to win €433333/100Bet £100 to win £433+333Bet $100 to win $4333.33Bet HK$100 to win HK$4333.33Bet Rp100 to win Rp433-0.3003Bet RM100 to win RM433  with Bet365.

Winner

England won the first match of the series, chasing down a daunting total without breaking out of second gear in the contest. The quality of their batting line-up gives them a huge advantage over the Windies, barely using Stokes and Buttler to record their highest ODI chase.

Without Roach the home side do not have the firepower to blow England’s top order away. Therefore no lead is safe, while the Three Lions have the ability to break 400 seemingly every time they take to the field. Back England to notch their second win of the series in Bridgetown at odds of 1.36Bet €100 to win €1369/25Bet £100 to win £136-278Bet $100 to win $1360.36Bet HK$100 to win HK$136-2.78Bet Rp100 to win Rp1360.3600Bet RM100 to win RM136  with Bet365.

Tips Summary

England To Beat West Indies
Friday 22^nd February 2019 15:00 GMT
Odds: 1.36Bet €100 to win €1369/25Bet £100 to win £136-278Bet $100 to win $1360.36Bet HK$100 to win HK$136-2.78Bet Rp100 to win Rp1360.3600Bet RM100 to win RM136

Shai Hope To Beat West Indies’ Top Batsman
Friday 22^nd February 2019 15:00 GMT
Odds: 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500

Jason Holder To Beat West Indies’ Top Bowler
Friday 22^nd February 2019 15:00 GMT
Odds: 4.00Bet €100 to win €4003/1Bet £100 to win £400+300Bet $100 to win $4003.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$4003.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp400-0.3333Bet RM100 to win RM400

Jason Roy To Be England’s Top Batsman
Friday 22^nd February 2019 15:00 GMT
Odds: 4.50Bet €100 to win €4507/2Bet £100 to win £450+350Bet $100 to win $4503.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$4503.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp450-0.2857Bet RM100 to win RM450

Adil Rashid To Be England’s Top Bowler
Friday 22^nd February 2019 15:00 GMT
Odds: 4.33Bet €100 to win €433333/100Bet £100 to win £433+333Bet $100 to win $4333.33Bet HK$100 to win HK$4333.33Bet Rp100 to win Rp433-0.3003Bet RM100 to win RM433