3rd ODI ENG (303/6) beat WI (278) by 25 runs

Final report: England 303 for 6 (Root 107, Buttler 99*, Moeen 55) beat West Indies 278 (Ramdin 128, Bresnan 3-45) by 25 runs

For the first time since July, England have won two matches in a row - with starring roles for two young batsmen - but it was not without some tension towards the end as Denesh Ramdin flayed the ball around the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in a career-best 128, but ultimately West Indies' under-performing top order had left too much to do.

Ramdin's was not the first maiden hundred of the day; it was Joe Root's that finished on the winning side. Two players viewed as central to England's rebuilding formed the most substantial part their success as Root, battling the pain of a damaged thumb, and Jos Buttler added 175 for the fifth wicket although it turned out more of those runs were needed than appeared likely at one point of West Indies' chase.

At 43 for 4 it needed something of James Faulkner in Brisbane and Shahid Afridi in Mirpur combined to turn the innings around. It was not far off emerging. For a while Ramdin and Darren Sammy threatened with a stand of 71 in 10 overs, then Ramdin continued the charge with the first hundred by a West Indies keeper in one-day cricket. He took advantage of England's persistence at bowling short, fetching sixes on both sides of the wicket, and there was a lesson for England's bowlers when Bresnan finally ended the chances of an incredible turnaround with, yes, a yorker that hit leg stump.

On a surface being used for the third time in a row, but that defied expectations having been extensively worked on between matches, strokeplay was easier than at any time in the series. West Indies will rue that none of their top four could provide a similar role to Root because Ramdin's late onslaught reminded, yet again, that asking rates of over ten an over are achievable with wickets in hand,

Root's hundred came off 112 balls and was another window into the character of his 23-year-old who, like many, endured a tough time in Australia where he lost his place in the Test and one-day sides. Buttler appeared set to join him with a maiden century, but facing Ravi Rampaul in the final over got a leading edge so had to settle for 99 off 84 balls. Their impish partnership, pot-marked by Buttler's strong hitting in the later stages, was England's second highest for the fifth wicket. Root's fine day continued when he struck in his first over, but he soon had to leave the field to have ice treatment on his thumb and was set for an x-ray.

England's innings was in the balance at the midway mark, West Indies having removed four wickets to even out Moeen Ali's maiden half-century - a fluent innings ended by a leading edge to Nikita Miller - but Root and Buttler meant England did not stall from a potentially tricky 116 for 4 after Eoin Morgan had been beaten by Sunil Narine's spin.

There was a key moment when Buttler had 22 and successfully overturned a caught behind decision, despite there not appearing to be conclusive evidence to do so, and earlier Root had been given a life on 23 when Ramdin could not gather an outside edge off Narine.

England played Narine cautiously for most of his allotment but his ninth over cost 21 as Buttler twice cleared the boundary - the second occasion off a free-hit. The batting Powerplay had not proved to be the downfall it so often seems, bringing a consolidating 36 in the five overs, which set up a final 10 overs that accrued 94.

Root had started his innings facing a hat-trick delivery from Dwayne Bravo after the West Indies captain had removed Michael Lumb and Ben Stokes. He calmly defended the delivery, but was in some severe discomfort a short while later when a ball from Rampaul climbed at him from a good length, striking a nasty blow on the thumb of his bottom hand.

He needed several minutes of treatment, some strapping and a dose of painkillers before resuming and then had to ensure his thumb did not seize up during a brief rain break. He continued to shake his hand throughout the innings, especially when the ball struck higher up his bat, but in a tremendous display of focus and application did not let it impact his strokeplay.

Buttler had missed out in the first two matches of the series when his finishing skills were needed, but in this innings reminded that he can set a total as well as hunt one down. Early on he still barely knew what Narine was bowling, but reigned in his ambitions to attack him knowing that there was easier fare on offer from the other end.

After bringing up his fifty off 56 deliveries he then opened his shoulders to pick up four sixes, forming an ideal contrast to Root who, while possessing the power to clear the ropes, played the anchor role and ran West Indies ragged.

West Indies' chase began in fairly shambolic fashion; Kieran Powell missing a sweep and Dwayne Smith picking out deep square-leg against Stuart Broad's first ball. Broad bowled a lively five-over spell which included a heated four-ball period against Lendl Simmons who Broad was convinced had edged behind and was flabbergast when the TV umpire, quite understandably, upheld the not-out decision.

"Come on lads, guilty shot coming," shouted Buttler from behind the stumps and three balls later Simmons dragged a pull into his stumps much to Broad's delighted, although it could easily have been classed as much as 'poor shot' as 'guilty shot'.

Unlike Buttler, a caught behind decision off Marlon Samuels was upheld and when Dwayne Bravo edged Ravi Bopara the requirement was 173 off 20 overs. To start with there was a sense of hopeful dash in the way Ramdin and Sammy played, but such was their impact that the run-rate - if not the wickets in hand - was not out of hand and there was relief for England when Ben Stokes took a superbly-judged boundary catch at deep square-leg

Ramdin continued to swing freely, but he could not rely much on the lower order. Miller found it difficult to get the ball away and Narine, after one towering six, was caught backing up too far. However, when Ramdin crunched the first three balls of the 48th over for six, four, four it was not beyond the realms he could finish the game himself. Then Bresnan remembered one of cricket's long-standing limited-overs deliveries. It was an untidy finish for England, but after the six months they have had they will take a series win whatever way it comes.

WI 278

FOW: WICKET - Powell b Root 1 (WI 10-1)

I'll have what Joe Root's having. First a hundred, now a wicket in the first over of the Windies reply. Dwayne Smith had swept a couple of fours but, when leftie Kieran Powell looked for the same shot, it ended as an ugly swipe across the line and leather into middle stump. Superman Root does the damage despite a bust thumb, Powell departs looking like a bit of a fool.

WICKET - Smith c Moeen b Broad 9 (WI 10-2)

Two wickets in two balls! It's more brainless batting from West Indies, this time as Dwayne Smith helps Stuart Broad's first ball to Moeen Ali at long leg. Smith on the pull, Mopeen barely having to move for the catch to hit him in the bread basket. England cockahoop, could the Windies fold here?

WICKET - DM Bravo c Bopara b Moeen 16 (WI 42-3)

Has someone hit the fast forward button on this game? Darren Bravo is the third Windian wicket to fall, hitting the final ball of Moeen Ali's first over to Ravi Bopara at short mid-wicket. Bopara actually makes a tricky catch look very simple, jumping to snaffle the ball in two hands above his head as cool as you like. Bravo was on the dance, but now must shuffle back to the shed. England all over it.

WICKET - Simmons b Broad 16 (WI 43-4)

The review is an irrelevance as Lendl Simmons gifts his wicket to Stuart Broad. It's short, but not short enough to pull, with Simmons playing-on to his stumps. Broad celebrates with a scream in the face of the departing batsman. England are steaming towards victory.

WICKET - Samuels c Buttler b Parry 23 (WI 80-5)

Yep, Samuels' demise is confirmed, though he's not happy about it. The slider from Parry wasn't really there to cut and Samuels, apparently, got a feather through to the white mitts of Buttler. Hard to see how England lose from here.

WICKET - DJ Bravo c Buttler b Bopara 27 (WI 131-6)

We move a step nearer to the ball game thanks to some excellent work by Jos Buttler. Standing up to the stumps to Ravi Bopara, Buttler cleanly takes a thick edge from Dwayne Bravo to send the skipper on his way. England are sprinting towards a series win.

WICKET - Sammy c Stokes b Bresnan 24 (WI 202-7)

Is that the killer blow? Tim Bresnan breaks this dangerous partnership with the help of some very smart work by Ben Stokes on the deep square leg boundary. Darren Sammy is on the hook, but the fleet-footed Stokes is around the rope to take the catch above his head a few blades of grass inside the playing surface. Job done?

WICKET - Miller c sub (Jordan) b Bresnan 10 (WI 246-8)

Tim Bresnan returns to put an end to this nonsense. It's not Ramdin, but Nikita Miller who is on the walk back. Shorter from Bresnan, Miller heaving straight up in the air to the hands of sub fielder Chris Jordan at cover. The Windies need two runs a ball with only two wickets in hand.

WICKET - Narine run out 10 (WI 263-9)

Is it now safe to say England are home and hosed? Some very dozy running from Sunil Narine and some excellent work by Stuart Broad sees the Windies lose their ninth wicket. Narine is sent back, turns slower than the QE II then dawdles his way back home. In the mean time, Broad acrobatically gathers the throw and takes the stumps to leave Narine well short. We must be done now, right?

WICKET - Ramdin b Bresnan 128 (WI 278 all out)


The yorker does it! The penny finally drops for Tim Bresnan, who goes full and straight to castle Denesh Ramdin and give England victory by 25 runs. Yorkers, eh? Who'd have thought it?

Eng 303/6 50 overs 

FOW: WICKET- Lumb c Narine b DJ Bravo 20 (Eng 37-1)

Anything short just sits up on this pitch, and both Moeen and Lumb help themselves to singles with controlled pull shots. But Lumb falls to a fuller ball as he cuts low to Sunil Narine at backward point.

WICKET- Stokes c Rampaul b DJ Bravo 0 (Eng 37-2)

Stokes falls for a golden quacker as he top-edges a pull shot to Rampaul at short fine leg. Bravo on a hat-trick...

WICKET- Moeen c & b Miller 55 (Eng 115-3)

Moeen comes down the pitch and drives the ball back towards Miller, who takes a fine catch

WICKET- Morgan b Narine 1 (Eng 116-4)

Morgan mockered? He's certainly bamboozled by Narine as he fails to read the spin and pace and loses his bails. England four down.

WICKET - Root c DM Bravo b DJ Bravo 107 (Eng 291-5)

Root tries his own version of the ramp shot but can only pick out Darren Bravo at short third man. Root walks off to a standing ovation.

WICKET - Buttler c & b Rampaul 99 (Eng 300-6)

Agony for Buttler! He's out for 99. The ball is way down the leg side and he tries to flick it to midwicket but gets a leading edge and sends the ball skywards. Rampaul gets underneath it and has plenty of time to take a simple catch. 

50 overs: England 303 for 6 (Root 107, Buttler 99*, Moeen 55) v West Indies

Joe Root battled the pain of a blow to his thumb to score his first one-day international hundred and Jos Buttler fell one run short of his own maiden century as England posted an imposing 303 for 6 in the deciding match of the series. 

The pair added 175 for the fifth wicket, England's second-highest stand for that wicket in ODIs, in by far the most complete batting performance of either side over the three matches so far.

The innings was in the balance at the midway mark, West Indies having removed four wickets to even out Moeen Ali's maiden half-century, but the impish batting of Root and Buttler meant the innings did not stall from a potentially tricky 116 for 4. There was a key moment when Buttler had 22 and successfully overturned a caught behind decision and earlier Root had been given a life on 23 when Denesh Ramdin could not gather an outside off Sunil Narine.

England played Narine cautiously for most of his allotment but his ninth over cost 21 as Buttler twice cleared the boundary - the second occasion off a free-hit. The batting Powerplay had not proved to be the so often seen downfall, bringing a consolidating 36 in the five overs which set up a final 10 overs that accrued 94. 

Although the pitch is being used for the third game in a row extensive work since the previous game meant it was not as turgid as had been feared.

Root's hundred came from 112 balls but Buttler could not quite join him when he got a leading edge in the final over. Regardless, with this tour being about England's future, it will have been immensely heartening for Ashley Giles.

Root had started his innings facing a hat-trick delivery from Dwayne Bravo after the West Indies captain had removed Michael Lumb and Ben Stokes. He calmly defended the delivery, but was in some severe discomfort a short while later when a ball from Ravi Rampaul climbed at him from a good length, striking a nasty blow on the thumb of his bottom hand.

He needed several minutes of treatment, some strapping and a dose of painkillers before resuming and then had to ensure his thumb did not seize up during a brief rain break. 

He continued to shake his hand throughout the innings, especially when the ball struck higher up his bat, but in a tremendous display of focus and application did not let it impact his strokeplay. This was also another window into Root's character, coming as he has after a tour of Australia where he was dropped from both the Test and one-day sides.

Buttler had missed out in the first two matches of the series when his finishing skills were needed, but in this innings reminded that he can set a total as well as hunt one down. Early on he still barely knew what Narine was bowling, but reigned in his ambitions to attack him knowing that there was easier fare on offer from the other end.

After bringing up his fifty off 56 deliveries he then opened his shoulders to pick up four sixes, forming an ideal contrast to Root who, while possessing the power to clear the ropes, played the anchor role and ran West Indies ragged.

The other significant innings came from Moeen who batted fluently to enhance the positive reputation he has made on this tour. He placed the ball deftly on both sides of the wicket, with the pick of his early shots a drive wide of mid-off.

One of the players uncapped before the series, Moeen had twice made starts in the previous matches before picking out fielders on the boundary. He was still not afraid to loft the ball, reaching his fifty with a slog-swept six off Marlon Samuels, but with a more significant score for the taking chipped a return catch to Nikita Miller.

In the next over, Narine spun one back between Eoin Morgan's inside edge to end his first innings of the series after injury but a partnership between two players seen as central to England's future meant that his failure did not end the prospects of a commanding total. 

25 overs England 119 for 4 (Root 36*, Buttler 1*) v West Indies

Moeen Ali struck his maiden international fifty but West Indies hit back towards the midway point of the innings with two quick wickets to leave the deciding ODI interestingly poised with England 119 for 4. Moeen and Joe Root had formed a solid foundation by adding 78 for the third wicket after Dwayne Bravo had jolted the visitors with two wickets in two balls only for another brace of dismissals to even the contest.

One of the players uncapped before the series, Moeen had twice made starts in the previous matches before picking out fielders on the boundary. He was still not afraid to loft the ball, reaching his fifty with a slog-swept six off Marlon Samuels, but with a more significant score for the taking chipped a return catch to Nikita Miller.

In the next over, the complexion of the match changed further when Sunil Narine spun one back past Eoin Morgan's inside edge to end his first innings of the series after injury. It left Root, battling the pain of a blow to thumb, and Jos Buttler, who does not appear to know what Narine is bowling, to rebuild the innings.

On a pitch being used for the third time in a row it was somewhat surprising when Bravo decided to bowl first rather than allow the surface to wear further for his spinners. However, the pitch had been watered and it did appear to have a touch more life with the new ball than in the previous two matches.

Initially, though, the bowling was wayward, especially from Ravi Rampaul, as England were able to launch the innings at a brisk tempo. Michael Lumb took early charge when he flicked Rampaul over wide long-on for six then followed it with a cover drive but, having committed strongly to his shots, then guided a half-hearted cut to backward point off Bravo.

West Indies' captain was then on a hat-trick for the second match running when Ben Stokes, promoted back to No. 3 after Luke Wright was dropped, top-edged a pull to short fine-leg and England's lively start had hit the buffers.

Root survived the hat-trick ball, but was later in significant pain when a delivery from Rampaul jumped off a length and struck him on the thumb of his bottom hand. He needed strapping and painkillers before resuming although did not appear comfortable before a rain break halted the action for half an hour.

Either side of the stoppage, Moeen batted fluently to enhance the positive reputation he has made on this tour. He placed the ball deftly on both sides of the wicket, with the pick of his early shots a drive wide of mid-off.

England's progress was aided by some poor glovework from Denesh Ramdin who gave both Moeen and Root and life. First was Root, on 23, when he edged Narine although in Ramdin's defence it was a reasonably thick edge. A stumping opportunity when Moeen had 43 should have been taken with the batsman well out of his crease. West Indies will have breathed a sigh of relief that it did not cost too many.

West Indies 1 Dwayne Smith, 2 Kieron Powell, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Lendl Simmons, 6 Dwayne Bravo (capt), 7 Darren Sammy, 8 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Ravi Rampaul, 11 Nikita Miller

England 1 Michael Lumb, 2 Moeen Ali, 3 Joe Root, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Ravi Bopara, 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Stuart Broad (capt), 10 James Tredwell, 11 Stephen Parry