Joe Root redeems himself and other talking points from England's win over West Indies in the first ODI

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  • Joe Root redeemed himself after dropping Chris Gayle early in the innings.

    Hosts England took on the West Indies in the first of the five-match ODI series at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester.

    Eoin Morgan’s men ran out comfortable victors in the end courtesy a seven-wicket win after the returning Chris Gayle had given them an almighty scare at the start of West Indies’ innings.

    The visitors had earlier shown why they are the defending ICC World T20 champions after they beat England by 21 runs in the lone T20I clash at Chester-le-street.

    In a game which was delayed by over two-hours due to bad weather leading to the overs being curtailed to 42 for each side, West Indies skipper Jason Holder won the toss and elected to bat first.

    His batsmen though failed to make the most of their opportunities as they could only muster 204-9 in their allotted overs.

    In reply, the hosts chased down the target with consummate ease to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

    In a match played under overcast conditions, we look at the three key talking points.

    Root redeems himself after Gayle’s early onslaught

    Gayle might have been returning to the West Indies’ ODI fold for the first time since the ICC World Cup 2015 but the Jamaican had given enough indications of the brute force he still possesses during the lone T201.

    The hosts should have sent the left-handed back to the pavilion in the third delivery of the match itself but Joe Root would squander a gilt-edged chance at second-slip after Chris Woakes had Gayle slashing wildly.

    It looked like that vital miss would cost England dear as Gayle went on a rampage hitting three sixes within the first four-overs of the West Indies innings.

    In the end though, Woakes would get his man and Root would redeem himself when Gayle would sky another attempt for a six high into the Manchester sky only for England’s Test skipper to complete a stunning running catch over his shoulder after running in from cover.

    Ben Stokes halts West Indies rebuild with double-strike

    After losing openers Elvin Lewis and Gayle within the first 10 overs, Shai Hope and Marlon Samuels had performed a rearguard action for the visitors as the duo dug in to form a 50-run partnership which took them the better part of 14 overs to complete.

    Though a tad slow, the partnership was threatening to build a solid platform for the West Indies to launch from later in the innings before England’s superstar all-rounder Ben Stokes spoilt the party.

    Stokes removed Hope first and will consider himself lucky to do so after the Caribbean batsman had absolutely nailed his pull short to the shorter-delivery only to see Jonny Bairstow pull off a stunner at deep-midwicket.

    Stokes then returned in the next over to dismiss Samuels in what could be considered another lucky dismissal after the West Indies batsman went chasing to a wide delivery down the leg side. The delivery was initially called as a wide by the umpire but Morgan reviewed the decision and his move was vindicated when the replays showed Samuels had edged the wayward delivery.

    Jonny Bairstow makes the opening-spot his own

    Jonny Bairstow has struggled to hold-down a spot in England’s ODI line-up which has had a settled look for some time now. If there is one position which is still up for grabs is that of the opening batsman where the regular man Jason Roy has struggle to pass the 20-run mark in his last nine innings.

    Bairstow was given a chance ahead of Roy to open the innings in England’s Champions Trophy semi-final defeat to Pakistan earlier this year where he scored 43 runs.

    On Tuesday, the 27-year-old was given another crack as Alex Hale’s opening partner and this time Bairstow might well have ended any hopes for Roy to regain that spot.

    The right-handed batsman was fluent throughout his innings laden with 11 boundaries as he notched up his maiden ODI century in style and remained unbeaten on 100 at the end to guide England home to a seven-wicket victory.

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