West Indies vs England: Gayle blitz sees Windies level series

England was bowled out for just 113 in St Lucia as West Indies won the fifth and final ODI with the small matter of 227 balls to spare.

Published : Mar 03, 2019 02:32 IST

Chris Gayle goes on the attack during the fifth ODI against England.
Chris Gayle goes on the attack during the fifth ODI against England.
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Chris Gayle goes on the attack during the fifth ODI against England.

Oshane Thomas and Chris Gayle played starring roles as West Indies levelled the one-day series against England with an emphatic seven-wicket win in St Lucia. 

Just 72 hours after amassing 418-6 to win the fourth game in Grenada on Wednesday to go 2-1 ahead, England was embarrassingly shot out for 113 to post its lowest total against West Indies in the 50-over format. The home team's quartet of quick bowlers claimed all 10 wickets to fall in an innings that spanned 28.1 overs, the lively Thomas (5/21) leading the way with his first five-wicket haul in ODI action.

Gayle - set to retire from ODIs after this year's Cricket World Cup - then rushed the host towards its minimal target in a hurry, the in-form opener continuing to torment England's attack by taking it for 77. The opener launching a series of hooks and pulls over the rope in a whirlwind 27-ball knock that included nine sixes. 

His half-century arrived in just 19 balls - making it the fastest ever by a West Indian - before Mark Wood eventually ended the onslaught by knocking over his off stump. The left-hander saluted an exuberant crowd at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium as he departed after what could be his final one-day innings on Caribbean soil.

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The seam pairing of Mark Wood and Chris Woakes came in for heavy punishment, leaking 55 and 56 runs respectively during six-over spells, despite picking up the wickets of John Campbell and Shai Hope.

Darren Bravo ended up seven not out and Shimron Hetmyer was unbeaten on 11 as West Indies sealed victory with an astonishing 227 balls to spare.

West Indies' decision to bowl first certainly paid off as England failed to cope with the extra bounce in the pitch. After Jonny Bairstow (11) was bowled by Sheldon Cottrell (1-23) off an inside edge, a succession of wickets fell to short deliveries. 

Thomas claimed his first in the innings when Eoin Morgan's top-edged pull picked out the man in the deep when on 18, and he also removed the dangerous Jos Buttler - who was joint leading scorer with Hales on 23 - in similar fashion. 

England tried to follow the example set by its opponents, but Gayle countered its bouncer plan by fighting fire with fire. He rolled back the years throughout the series – finishing it with 424 runs – with his last act on home soil making sure the series ended all-square.

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