Effective Powerplay bowling, brilliant catching and sparkling centuries from Keacy Carty and Brandon King gave the West Indies a storming eight-wicket victory over England in the third and final One-Day International at Kensington Oval and a 2-1 series win Wednesday night. Having limited England to 263 for eight in their 50 overs, the West Indies were launched to victory by a double century second wicket partnership – 209 – between Carty (128 not out) with his maiden ODI century and King (102) with his third, as West Indies reached their target with seven overs to spare, ending on 267 for two. The stand was the second highest partnership for the Windies in ODIs in the Caribbean.
And it was compiled in classy fashion by the pair of right handers. St Maarten native Carty counted 15 fours and two sixes in getting to three figures for the first time in an ODI. His shots were scattered all around Kensington and complemented the return to his best form of King whose 102 took him just 117 balls and contained 13 fours and a six.
Carty’s runs had come at a strike rate of 112. They had come together after Evin Lewis (19) top-edged a hook off Craig Overton to Adil Rashid in the seventh over after he and King had added 42 for the first wicket. The pair firmly shut out the England bowlers who struggled to make an impact in the night conditions.
Earlier, however, the WI bowlers maximised early help from the surface in the Powerplay after captain Shai Hope won the toss and chose to fi.
