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Captain Liam Livingstone notched a maiden one-day international hundred to lead England to a five-wicket victory over the West Indies on Saturday.
Livingstone’s blistering innings eclipsed opposition captain Shai Hope’s century earlier in the day.
Chasing 329 to win, the England captain made his hundred off 77 balls with four fours and six sixes.
He finished the innings unbeaten on 124 after adding another boundary and three more sixes to his total as England secured victory with 15 balls to spare.
From 160-4, Livingstone and Sam Curran put on a match-winning partnership of 140 for the fifth wicket.
Curran made a run-a-ball 52 while opener Phil Salt (59) and Jacob Bethell (55) also celebrated half-centuries.
“At the end of the summer I felt like I was back to my best, maturing a bit and knowing my game,” said Livingstone, who manages the team in place of Jos Buttler, injured.
“I enjoy my cricket and if I enjoy my cricket I usually play well. Sammy played magnificently.”
He added: “We were sloppy in the field but our bowlers did well and took wickets throughout. We have a lot of youngsters learning the ropes of international cricket, it will do them a lot of good. “
West Indies fast bowler Matthew Forde took 3-48, but key player Gudakesh Motie remained wicketless in nine overs, conceding 71 runs, the costliest return of his ODI career.
Hope made 117 – his 17th ODI century – as West Indies recovered from the loss of both openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis, a century-maker in the first match, in four overs with just 12 on the board.
Both wickets fell to fast bowler John Turner, his first victims in the format in his second appearance.
Hope’s innings included eight fours and four sixes.
– “The century does not matter” –
Keacy Carty hit 71 while Sherfane Rutherford provided further impetus with a quick 54 from 36 balls.
Hope described his century as “unimportant, if it does not contribute to victories”.
He added: “We need to be more disciplined. In the first game we showed that when he hit our straps things happened.
“We thought we had clear plans but we didn’t execute them well. We gave them a lot of easy options to score and when you play international cricket, guys capitalize and that’s what happened.”
England used nine bowlers during the West Indies innings, with only wicketkeeper Salt and Jordan Cox not receiving the ball.
West Indies won the first match by eight wickets at the same venue on Thursday. The three-match series will be decided on Wednesday in Barbados.
“Back in the series, looking forward to Barbados, we will rest and try to win the series,” Livingstone added.
The two teams will also play a five-match Twenty20 international series.
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