JOIN US Joe Root completed his first one-day international century to help guide England to a 25-run victory over West Indies on Wednesday in the deciding match of their three-game series in Antigua.
Root made 107 off 122 balls to help the tourists compile an imposing total of 303 for six after opener Moeen Ali had laid the foundations with 55 and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler added 99 late in the innings.
West Indies, in reply, were bowled out for 278 in the 48th over to concede the series 2-1 despite an heroic batting performance by Denesh Ramdin.
The home side were in early trouble after slumping to 43 for four in the eighth over when Ramdin came to the crease. The West Indian keeper proceeded to blast a career best 128 off 109 deliveries, pummelling 12 boundaries and five sixes.
His explosive innings threatened to turn the match around but the West Indian fightback ended when he was the last man out, bowled by a yorker from all-rounder Tim Bresnan (3-45) that knocked his leg stump out of the ground.
Root came out with England in a sticky situation at 37-2 after Ben Stokes went for a golden duck but calmly set about rebuilding the innings, whacking seven boundaries to reach his ton, despite being hit on the thumb.
Buttler was unlucky not to reach triple figures as well. He struck seven boundaries and four sixes only to fall in the last over when he misjudged a slower ball from Ravi Rampaul which he chipped in the air for a return catch.
ENGLAND
Lumb c Narine b DJ Bravo 20
Ali c & b Miller 55
Stokes c Rampaul b DJ Bravo 0
Root c DM Bravo b DJ Bravo 107
Morgan b Narine 1
Buttler c & b Rampaul 99
Bopara (not out) 5
Bresnan (not out) 1
Extras (LB-5, W-8, NB-2) 15
Total (for 6 wkts, 50 overs) 303
Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-37, 3-115, 4-116, 5-291, 6-300.
Bowling: DJ Bravo 10-0-60-3, Rampaul 8-0-55-1, Sammy 5-0-35-0, Smith 1-0-6-0, Narine 10-1-52-1, Miller 10-0-48-1, Samuels 5-0-29-0, Simmons 1-0-13-0.
WEST INDIES
Powell b Root 1
Smith c Ali b Broad 9
DM Bravo c Bopara b Ali 16
Simmons b Broad 16
Samuels c Buttler b Parry 23
Ramdin b Bresnan 128
DJ Bravo c Buttler b Bopara 27
Sammy c Stokes b Bresnan 24
Miller c sub (Jordan) b Bresnan 10
Narine (run out) 10
Rampaul (not out) 0
Extras (B-3, LB-6, W-5) 14
Total (all out, 47.4 overs) 278
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-10, 3-42, 4-43, 5-80, 6-131, 7-202, 8-246, 9-263.
Bowling: Root 3-0-24-1, Broad 9-0-58-2, Ali 1-0-5-1, Parry 9-1-60-1, Bresnan 8.4-0-45-3, Tredwell 10-1-38-0, Stokes 4-0-21-0, Bopara 3-0-18-1.