Liam Livingstone hit a thunderous 124 not out as England beat West Indies by five wickets in the second ODI
A phenomenal Liam Livingstone innings secured England an unlikely victory and levelled the series in the West Indies, as the visitors chased down an imposing 329 in Antigua.on Thursday, captain Livingstone implored his side to “bat smarter”. This is what he meant, as he prodded then crashed his way to a maiden one-day international century and match-winning 124 not out. His first fifty had taken him 60 balls, his second took 17.
Faced with 329 to win after the West Indies captain, Shai Hope, made a superb 117, England showed the restraint that eluded them on Thursday, as on top of Livingstone’s century, all of Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran made half centuries.Livingstone and Curran combined for the key partnership. With 169 to win from 22 overs and four wickets down, England were behind the game but not by miles.
With 10 overs to go and exactly 100 runs required, Livingstone flipped the switch. Faced with the left-arm spin of Gudakesh Motie, he struck him for three sixes across two overs. But it was only the beginning of Livingstone’s onslaught. West Indies’ 328 was a record ODI total at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and until Jayden Seales delivered the 45th over it looked like it would be enough. Livingstone blazed 22 off six legal deliveries which included two enormous sixes over extra cover.
Six weeks ago, England had dropped Livingstone for the ODIs against Australia before Jos Buttler’s calf injury gave him a route back in. In an honest conversation with managing director Rob Key, Livingstone said his one complaint was that he felt he hadn’t been given enough responsibility over the past two years. Often batting at seven and bowling a handful of overs, he hadn’t had the chance to dictate matches.
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