||Desk Report||

With the all-round performance, England won the 806-run-game against West Indies, beating the hosts by 29 runs in fourth ODI and took the five-match series lead 2-1 in Grenada on Wednesday. The match could be considered as the game of the records as the players of both side made several records during the match.

England scored the highest total of 418 for 6 in West Indies with the help of Jos Buttler and skipper Eoin Morgan tons. It is the highest total by any team against West Indies at their home as well as the third highest score for England. Earlier, India scored 418 for 5 against West Indies in Indore on 2011. In Chasing of a massive target of 419, West Indies scored 389 all out. Though Chris Gayle blazed with 162 off 97, the Caribbeans failed to win the match. However, both teams hit 46 sixes which is the most number of sixes in a game. England hit 24 sixes in their innings, the highest sixes in an innings and West Indies hit 22. Earlier, West Indies hit the most ODI sixes in an inning, 23, in the first ODI of this ongoing series against England.

Chris Gayle smashed his ton including 14 sixes and 11 fours. The veteran batsman touched a landmark hitting 506 sixes in total 446 matches including 305-ODI-sixer and joined 10,000-run-club in ODIs. In chasing of 419, the hosts got a stumble when opener John Campbell dismissed for 15. After then, Shai Hope dismissed for 5. But Gayle along with Darren Bravo made 176-run partnership in the third-wicket-stand. The pair drove the home side into the race again. Bravo scored 61 off 59 balls in his 101 ODIs. After sending back Bravo, Mark Wood had removed Shimron Hetmyer for 6 in his one over.  But Gayle was still on the crease and carrying on his domination over English bowlers. Finally, Ben Stokes bowled him out, kept the visitors ahead.

West Indies were again into trouble after Jason Holder went back for 29. Carlos Brathwaite along with Ashley Nurse tried to resist with their 88-run in the seventh-wicket-stand. Carlos Brathwaite smashed his maiden ODI fifty off 36 balls while Nurse scored 43 runs. But, this time Adil Rashid showed his magic, took four wickets in his one over and restricted the hosts at 389 all out. Sheldon Cottrell was only unbeaten for 0. Rashid dismissed Brathwaite, Nurse, Devendra Bishoo (0) and Oshane Thomas (0) in the 48^th over and claimed his second ODI-fifer.

Earlier, the two openers Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales gave England a solid start, added 100-run in the opening-stand within 13.5 overs. Bairstow scored 56 off 43 while Hales knocked 82 off 73. After Bairstow and Joe Root’ departure, Hales took the charge, added more 45 runs along with captain Eoin Morgan in the third-stand.

After then, Morgan along with Jos Buttler added 204 in the fourth wicket-stand. Morgan, who passed 6000-run-mark in ODI, hit 103 for 88 including 8 fours and 6 sixes. On the other side, Buttler smashed 150 off 77 including 12 sixes and 13 fours which is the highest number of sixes and fours by any English batters. The duo led England to the massive score. Among the others, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali was not out for 11 and 0 respectively. Brathwaite and Thomas claimed two wickets each.

Brief Score

England: 418/6

Buttler 150, Morgan 103, Hales 82, Bairstow 56