England beat West Indies in first ODI: Here're records broken
With less than 100 days left for the ICC World Cup 2019, England showed once again why they are the number one side in the world in ODIs. Eoin Morgan's side chased down a nearly impossible target of 361 to down West Indies. Jason Roy and Joe Root struck hundreds to master the chase after West Indian Chris Gayle had scored 135. Here's more.
How did the match pan out?
Batting first, Windies rode on a superb ton by Gayle to post a competitive total of 360/8. Shai Hope (64) gave the opener the required support. Ben Stokes (3/37) was the pick of the English bowlers. England kept themselves in the game and sealed the match with 8 balls to spare. Besides Roy and Root, Morgan hit a 51-ball 65. Jason Holder took 2/63.
England master their highest chase in ODIs
England pulled of their highest chase in the 50-over format, as Roy (123) hit his seventh career ODI hundred. The aggressive opener smashed 15 fours and three sixes. Root struck a 97-ball 102 to smash his 14th career ODI ton. The anchorman hit nine fours and shared two century-plus partnerships with Roy (114) and Morgan (116) respectively.
Windies smash 23 sixes against England
Chris Gayle was at his best against England, as he notched his 24th career ODI century. The southpaw hit three fours and 12 sixes. Gayle is now one ton away from equalling legends Kumar Sangakkara and AB de Villiers in terms of career ODI tons (25). Windies hit 23 sixes against England. It is the most by a team in the history of ODIs.
Gayle scripts various records against England
Gayle's 12 sixes against England is his second best tally in ODI cricket. His best is 16 sixes versus Zimbabwe in 2015. Gayle has 1,307 ODI runs against England. He went past Desmond Haynes (1,185). The powerful batsman also notched his third career ton against England and equalled Sir Vivian Richards. Gayle now has the most sixes in international cricket (488).
A fleet of records for Joe Root in ODIs
Root became the fourth England player to get to 5,000 ODI runs (5,048). He joined the likes of Eoin Morgan, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood. Root is also the fourth quickest batsmen to reach 5,000 ODI runs, after Hashim Amla, Viv Richards and Virat Kohli. The 28-year-old also went past South Africa's JP Duminy in terms of career ODI runs (5,016).
Other records scripted in this match
Gayle amassed his highest ODI score versus England. Root now has 662 ODI runs against WI. He went past former England players Michael Atherton (638) and Alex Stewart (659). England have beaten West Indies 10 times in their last 11 ODIs (W 10, N/R 1).