Livingstone Special Helps England Square Series

In a remarkable turnaround, England secured a five-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second ODI in Antigua, leveling the series after a loss in the opening match. The West Indies, led by captain Shai Hope's impressive 117, set a formidable target with a total of 328 runs for six wickets. However, England's Liam Livingstone stole the spotlight with an explosive unbeaten 124 runs off just 85 balls, driving his team to victory with 15 deliveries to spare.

West Indies' innings began on a shaky note, losing Brandon King and Evin Lewis early, thanks to England's John Turner. Hope and Keacy Carty stabilized the innings, building a significant partnership of 143 runs that helped West Indies recover from a precarious 12/2 in the fourth over. Both batters showcased their skills, with Hope reaching his century and Carty contributing a solid 71 runs off 77 balls. Their partnership allowed West Indies to post a competitive total, bolstered further by Sherfane Rutherford’s aggressive 50 off 35 balls.

England’s chase started with early setbacks, losing two wickets within the first 12 overs. Will Jacks fell victim to a loose delivery from Matthew Forde, while Jordan Cox's top edge led to his dismissal. Despite the early loss, Phil Salt quickly found his rhythm, scoring a brisk 59 runs, which included a rapid fifty off 42 balls. However, after Salt’s departure, a steady partnership developed between Jacob Bethell and Livingstone, with Bethell also reaching a half-century.

As the innings progressed, Livingstone began to accelerate. England entered the final ten overs needing 100 runs, and Livingstone transformed the game, moving from 46 runs at the end of the 40th over to a remarkable 99 off 76 balls by the end of the 45th. He unleashed a barrage of boundaries, hitting three sixes and a four in a single over off Gudakesh Motie, and followed up with a 26-run over against Jayden Seales. Livingstone reached his maiden ODI century in 77 balls, and together with Sam Curran, they formed a formidable partnership.

Curran also contributed significantly, crossing the fifty mark himself, and the duo's efforts brought England closer to their target. Livingstone continued to dominate, hitting another trio of sixes in a single over, ensuring that the West Indies were unable to mount a comeback. The final runs were scored calmly, with England achieving their target of 329 runs in just 47.3 overs.

Earlier, opting to bowl first, England's decision was vindicated with Turner’s early breakthroughs. However, West Indies countered with a well-paced innings, capitalizing on England’s bowling efforts to score 93 runs in the last ten overs. Despite the strong start, the total ultimately proved insufficient, thanks to Livingstone's explosive performance.