Liam Livingstone’s unbeaten century guides England to victory over West Indies in 2nd ODI
New Delhi: After suffering an eight-wicket defeat in the series opener, England rebounded emphatically in the second ODI against West Indies, winning comfortably by five wickets. Stand-in captain Liam Livingstone played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten century and earning the Player of the Match (POTM) honors for his outstanding performance.
Livingstone’s unbeaten 124 outshone Shai Hope’s impressive 117, helping the Three Lions level the three-match series at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
After winning the toss, Livingstone opted to invite the hosts to bat first, a decision eagerly accepted by Shai Hope and his team. Despite losing their openers within the first four overs, a resilient 143-run partnership between Keacy Carty and skipper Hope helped the Windies recover from an early crisis.
Both Carty, who scored 71 runs off 77 balls, and Hope, who contributed 117 runs off 127 balls, played with measured caution, avoiding unnecessary risks and capitalizing on the English bowlers’ mistakes in line and length. Carty’s innings included five fours and a six, while Hope’s explosive performance featured eight boundaries and four sixes, showcasing their ability to build a solid foundation for the Windies.
The late impetus for the Windies came from Shimron Hetmyer, who scored 24 runs off 11 balls, and Matthew Forde, who finished unbeaten on 23 runs from 11 deliveries. Their contributions helped the team post a formidable total of 328 runs in their 50 overs.
After being bowled out for a mere 209 in the series opener, England needed a strong start, and Phil Salt delivered, smashing a brisk 59 runs off just 59 balls. Following his solid foundation, Liam Livingstone took center stage, dominating the innings and effectively sealing the game for England.
Livingstone received excellent support from Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran, both of whom also scored half-centuries, enabling England to chase down the target with 15 balls to spare. The series decider is set to take place on November 6, promising an exciting conclusion to the competition.