Lewis, Joseph impress despite England win

LONDON, (CMC):

Evin Lewis' sublime career-best hundred and Alzarri Joseph's maiden five-wicket haul both proved in vain as West Indies crashed to a six-run defeat under Duckworth/Lewis in the fourth One-Day International, to concede the five-match series to England yesterday.

Chasing a difficult 357 for victory at the Oval following Lewis's 176, England were 258 for five in the 36th over - ahead of the D/L par score of 252 - when the adverse weather drove players from the field at 7:35 p.m. (1:35 p.m. Jamaica time).

With the drizzles persisting, officials called play off at 8:10 p.m., leaving a disappointed West Indies with their sixth straight ODI series defeat to England and without a tour victory over a higher-ranked side in five years.

This statistic seemed destined to change when the Caribbean side romped to 356 for five off their 50 overs - their fourth highest total in ODIs and highest-ever against England.

The charge was led by Lewis while captain Jason Holder lashed a career-best 77, Jason Mohammed struck 46 and Rovman Powell, a cameo unbeaten 28 at the end.

England seemed on course to complete their highest-ever successful run chase when opener Jason Roy stroked a top score of 84 in an opening stand of 126 with Jonny Bairstow who made 39.

But fast bowler Joseph intervened with an outstanding spell to claim five for 56 to haul West Indies back into the contest by reducing England to 181 for five in the 28th over.

However, Moeen Ali proved the Windies tormentor again, hammering an unbeaten 48 in a 77-run sixth wicket stand with Jos Buttler who made 43 not out, to get England ahead of the required rate with rain looming in the distance.

England now lead the series 3-0 with the final match of the series carded for the Ageas Bowl tomorrow.

WEST INDIES

C Gayle c Root b Woakes 2

E Lewis ret. hurt 176

+S Hope c wkp Buttler b Woakes 11

M Samuels lbw b Woakes 1

J Mohammed c wkp Buttler b Rashid 46

*J Holder c Billings b Plunkett 77

R Powell not out 28

Extras (lb3, w12) 15

TOTAL (5 wkts, 50 overs) 356

Did not bat: A Nurse, J Taylor, A Joseph, M Cummins.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-19, 3-33, 4-150, 4-318, 5-356.

Bowling: Woakes 10-0-71-3, Ball 10-0-68-0, Plunkett 10-0-67-1, Moeen Ali 9-1-70-0, Root 1-0-10-0, Rashid 10-0-67-1.

ENGLAND

J Roy c wkp Hope b Joseph 84

J Bairstow c wkp Hope b Joseph 39

J Root c wkp Hope b Joseph 14

*E Morgan c sub (K Hope) b Joseph 19

+J Buttler not out 43

S Billings c Gayle b Joseph 2

M Ali not out 48

Extras (lb 4, w3, nb2) 9

TOTAL (5 wkts, 35.1 overs) 258

Did not bat: C Woakes, A Rashid, L Plunkett, J Ball.

Fall of wickets: 1-126, 2-144, 3-157, 4-177, 5-181.

Bowling: Taylor 7-0-48-0, Holder 9-0-52-0, Joseph 8.1-0-56-5, Cummins 6-0-49-0, Nurse 3-0-39-0, Powell 2-0-10-0.

Result: England won by six runs (D/L)

Series: England lead five-match series 3-0.

Man-of-the-Match: Evin Lewis.

Toss: England.