A rapid, hostile spell of fast bowling from Oshane Thomas helped skittle England for 113 before a blitz from Chris Gayle saw them wrap up a series-levelling victory in double-quick time.
West Indies won the toss and elected to field, and quickly set about making in roads into the England line-up. Jonny Bairstow was bowled for 11 by a Sheldon Cottrell inswinger, and Joe Root uppercut Jason Holder to Cottrell at third man for 1 to leave England 18/2.
Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan supplied a partial recovery, leading England out of the Powerplay and to 57/2 without further loss, before the former edged a cut off Carlos Brathwaite behind, with the latter giving Thomas his first wicket soon after, picking out Cottrell on the midwicket rope with a pull shot.
Ben Stokes was the next to fall into the short-ball trap, gloving a pull off Brathwaite, and England were 88/5 and in some trouble. But with a deep batting line-up and the in-form Jos Buttler at the crease, there was hope of making it past 200. Then, in 3.3 overs of madness, their innings was over, as Thomas sparked a collapse of 5/2.
Moeen Ali was first to go, edging a drive to the keeper before Buttler and Chris Woakes both failed to control short balls and were caught in the deep on the leg side. The latter became the first man to be dismissed for a duck on his birthday in ODIs. Holder then got in on the act as Adil Rashid tickled a sharp delivery through to the keeper, before a searing yorker from Thomas cleaned up England, who had slipped from 111/5 to 113 all out.
Thomas finished with 5/21, his first five-for in professional cricket.
So short was England’s effort with the bat that West Indies had time to complete the formalities before the lunch interval, especially with the big-hitting Gayle at the crease. He smashed the last three balls of Woakes’ opening over for 14 runs before plundering his next over for 23, three sixes and a four coming either side of a reprieve when Gayle was caught at fine-leg off a top edge, only for the bouncer to be deemed too high.
Mark Wood, who bowled with his customary pace and hostility then bowled John Campbell with a full straight ball, but after two overs of relative calm – including another slice of frustration for Woakes, who had Shai Hope LBW only for the decision to be overturned on review – Gayle smashed Wood for another two sixes before tucking a single to bring up his half-century. Coming off just 19 balls, it was the fastest by a West Indian in ODI history.
The worst was yet to come for Wood and England as Gayle tucked into three sixes and two fours off five balls, before finally missing one and getting bowled for a staggering 27-ball 77. Woakes finally had some reward when he bowled Hope in the next over, but there was no changing the final result, and Shimron Hetmyer duly struck the winning blow to seal victory with 37.5 overs remaining. The entire game had taken just 40.2 overs, as the series deservedly ended level at 2-2.
