England Level ODI Series Against West Indies Thanks to Liam Livingstone's Unbeaten Century
England levelled the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against West Indies on Wednesday, with a convincing eight-wicket victory in the second match at Kensington Oval in Barbados. Chasing a modest target of 226, England cruised to victory with 14.2 overs to spare, thanks to an unbeaten century from Liam Livingstone.
Livingstone's Match-winning Innings
Livingstone, batting at number three, played a masterful knock of 103 off 94 deliveries. He anchored England's chase and found able support from Joe Root, who chipped in with an unbeaten 50. The pair shared an unbroken partnership of 152 runs for the third wicket, extinguishing any hope of a West Indian comeback.
Livingstone's innings was characterized by his power-hitting and shot selection. He hit nine fours and five sixes, and displayed an excellent temperament under pressure. With England struggling early on, losing Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow cheaply, Livingstone's innings proved invaluable.
West Indies' Inconsistent Performance
West Indies had earlier posted a competitive 225/9 from their 50 overs. Opener Shai Hope (51) and Brandon King (42) got them off to a solid start, but they were pegged back by the England bowlers in the middle overs. Captain Nicholas Pooran contributed 34, but the team failed to build any substantial partnerships.
England's bowling attack, led by Saqib Mahmood (3/24) and Craig Overton (2/38), kept the West Indian batters in check. The spinners, Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, also played their part, restricting the hosts to a sub-par total.
Series Levelled
With the series levelled at 1-1, the decider will take place at the same venue on Friday. England will be looking to seal the series and build momentum ahead of the upcoming World Cup, while West Indies will be desperate to salvage a positive result.