For the West Indies this was a must-win match; failure to do so would signal an end to their hopes of automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup. However, as it transpired, they were completely outplayed on the day, losing their truncated match by seven wickets, as England cantered home with more than 11 overs to spare.
Star of the match was undoubtedly Jonny Bairstow, chosen to open the innings once again, who scored a brilliant unbeaten century for England.
Together with Yorkshire colleague Joe Root, he shared a 125 second-wicket partnership before Root was bowled by Williams for 54, having reached his 33rd ODI half-century in the process. This partnership completely took the match away from West Indies who, well before the end, looked a well-beaten side.
The late dismissal of captain Eoin Morgan for just 10 mattered little, as Ben Stokes hit 23 off just 10 balls at the end, to see England home for the easy victory.
Earlier in the day, a wet outfield delayed the start of the match, much to the frustration of the playing spectators who were enjoying the bright sunshine.
However, when proceedings eventually got underway, some two hours late, it was the visitors who won the toss, and decided to bat on a good and even pitch.
With the match reduced to 42 overs a side, the home side brought back Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali, rested from Saturday’s T20 defeat, whilst Chris Woakes and David Willey were restored to the attack. West Indies included Shai Hope, their hero from the test series, doubling-up as wicketkeeper, as well as their star names, such as Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis and Marlon Samuels.
The West Indies had an early let-off with Joe Root dropping Gayle in the first over off the bowling of Woakes with his score on nil, a miss that England lived to regret as the West Indian opener plundered 37 off just 27 balls, including three 6s and two 4s before Root made amends with a catch in the deep off the same bowler.
Meanwhile Ali accounted for Lewis for just 11, and tight bowling and good fielding – albeit with the odd dropped catch which continues to mar England’s performances – restricted the West Indies total to less than a par score.
One notable achievement was all seven of the West Indies’ top seven reaching double figures, the first time they had managed that feat in an ODI in England for 26 years. However, no batsmen really posted a big score, with Holder’s late onslaught leaving him 41 not out, and Hope the best of the rest with 35.
The West Indies finished on 204 -9, with Stokes probably the best of the England bowlers with 3 -43, including the prized wicket of his on and off-field nemesis Samuels for just 17; wisely perhaps, with the bowler one demerit point away from a suspension, he managed to avoid excessive celebration.
However, there was a feeling that, if England batted well, then the West Indies total was just too low, and so it proved, despite the loss of Hayles, out cheaply off the bowling of Taylor for just 19.
For England, quick revenge for the T20 defeat at Durham. For the West Indies, the realisation that they are going to have to qualify for the next World Cup, and the need to perform better in the second match of the series scheduled for Trent Bridge on Thursday.