Bairstow century propels England to easy win over West Indies
LONDON-- An unbeaten century from Jonny Bairstow helped England stroll to a seven-wicket victory over West Indies in the opening match of their one-day series at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
With England set a modest target of 205 in a match reduced to 42 overs per side because of a weather-delayed start, the outcome was never really in doubt, and the main question was if Bairstow had time to reach three figures for the first time in ODIs.
Bairstow got there in the 31st over and a few balls later Ben Stokes sealed the win by launching Ashley Nurse over the boundary rope.
West Indies' defeat means they will have to qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
They made a fast start to their innings with Chris Gayle, dropped by Joe Root in the first over, thumping three huge sixes as the visitors reached 45 without loss after five overs.
Root made amends when he sprinted full steam to catch Gayle on the boundary for 37 and while Shai Hope (35), Marlon Samuels (17) and Jason Mohammed (18) all made starts, wickets fell at regular intervals with Stokes the main dangerman.
Hope was superbly caught one-handed by man-of-the-match Bairstow on the mid-wicket boundary off of the bowling of Stokes, who finished with figures of three for 43.
Jason Holder's 41 not out helped West Indies past the 200-mark but it never looked like being enough.
Alex Hales was caught off the bowling of Jerome Taylor for 19 but Root joined Bairstow for a second-wicket stand of 125 before Root was bowled by Kesrick Williams for 54.
Williams also removed captain Eoin Morgan for 10 but Stokes joined Bairstow as England cantered home under the lights.
The second match is at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
One Day International England v West Indies scoreboard
Manchester, England
West Indies Innings
C. Gayle c Root b Woakes 37
E. Lewis c Hales b Ali 11
S. Hope c Bairstow b Stokes 35
M. Samuels c Buttler b Stokes 17
J. Mohammed c Hales b Rashid 18
R. Powell c Willey b Woakes 23
J. Holder not out 41
A. Nurse c Root b Rashid 1
D. Bishoo b Willey 5
J. Taylor c Buttler b Stokes 2
K. Williams not out 0
Extras (lb-3 nb-2 w-9) 14
Total (for 9 wickets, 42 overs) 204
Fall of wickets: 1-45 E. Lewis,2-53 C. Gayle,3-103 S. Hope,4-107 M. Samuels,5-149 J. Mohammed,6-150 R. Powell,7-160 A. Nurse,8-187 D. Bishoo,9-202 J. Taylor
Bowling
C. Woakes 8 - 0 - 41 - 2(w-2)
D. Willey 6 - 0 - 39 - 1(w-1)
M. Ali 2 - 0 - 5 - 1
A. Rashid 9 - 0 - 31 - 2
L. Plunkett 8 - 0 - 42 - 0(w-2)
B. Stokes 9 - 0 - 43 - 3(nb-2 w-4)
England Innings
J. Bairstow not out 100
A. Hales c Lewis b Taylor 19
J. Root b Williams 54
E. Morgan c S. Hope b Williams 10
B. Stokes not out 23
Extras (w-4) 4
Total (for 3 wickets, 30.5 overs) 210
Fall of wickets: 1-31 A. Hales,2-156 J. Root,3-175 E. Morgan
Did not bat: J. Buttler, M. Ali, A. Rashid, C. Woakes, D. Willey, L. Plunkett
Bowling
J. Taylor 7 - 0 - 46 - 1(w-1)
J. Holder 3 - 0 - 18 - 0
K. Williams 6 - 0 - 50 - 2(w-1)
A. Nurse 8.5 - 0 - 48 - 0(w-1)
D. Bishoo 6 - 0 - 48 - 0
Referees
Umpire: Simon Fry
Umpire: Tim Robinson
TV umpire: Rod Tucker
Match referee: Javagal Srinath
Result: England won by 7 wickets
