Duckett and Smith led England to an ODI win as they wrapped up the series against the West Indies in dominant fashion at The Oval. Their powerful performances helped secure a clinical seven-wicket victory, completing a 3-0 series sweep. Despite rain interruptions, England comfortably chased down a revised target of 246 in just 29.4 overs.
To begin with, persistent rain and heavy London traffic delayed the toss. As a result, the match was reduced to 40 overs per side under the DLS method. The West Indies batted first but struggled right away. They crashed to 28 for 3 in the opening seven overs. England’s bowling attack, led by Saqib Mahmood and Adil Rashid, was relentless. Their pace and spin left the visitors constantly on the back foot.
Still, Sherfane Rutherford tried to stabilize the innings. He scored a solid 70 off 71 balls. Keacy Carty also contributed 29 runs. Together, they built a 62-run stand, which gave some hope. However, just as things looked stable, the West Indies faltered again. They fell from 90 for 3 to 154 for 7 in no time.
Then came a late surge. Gudakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph fought back with an explosive partnership. They smashed five sixes and five boundaries, helping West Indies post a competitive 251 for 9 in 40 overs. In response, England came out firing. Jamie Smith stole the show. He hammered a quickfire 64 off 28 balls, including 10 boundaries and 3 sixes. His aggressive start earned him the Player of the Match award.
Alongside him, Ben Duckett played a steady knock. He scored 58 off 46 balls. Their 93-run stand in just seven overs gave England early dominance. After Smith’s dismissal, Duckett continued the momentum. He and Joe Root added another 62 runs. Root stayed calm and composed with a 44-run innings.
Eventually, Jos Buttler stepped in to finish the job. He smashed an unbeaten 41 from 20 balls, laced with five fours and two sixes. England completed the chase with more than ten overs to spare.
In conclusion, England’s win was emphatic. Their performance showed depth, discipline, and unity. Every department clicked. Jamie Smith’s breakout knock stood out as a major highlight of the series.
