Evin Lewis powered West Indies to victory with a dazzling 94 off 69 balls, as they defeated England by eight wickets in the opening ODI in Antigua. Lewis, hitting five fours and eight towering sixes, led his team close to their rain-adjusted target of 157 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Although he missed out on a century by attempting a six, his explosive innings had already set the stage for an easy finish.
England, fielding an inexperienced side, struggled to score, posting only 209 runs in 45.1 overs. Gudakesh Motie’s effective left-arm spin claimed four wickets for 41 runs, while stand-in captain Liam Livingstone added a solid 48 from 49 balls. Livingstone and Sam Curran (37) managed a partnership of 72 for the fifth wicket, but they were the only players to reach 30 runs, leaving England unable to find their groove.
England’s bowlers, including debutant John Turner, brought pace and pressure but couldn’t break through the West Indies’ opening pair. Lewis soon gained momentum, reaching his 50 from just 46 balls and sending several shots over the leg-side boundary. Following a rain delay that adjusted the target to 157, Lewis resumed his assault, falling just 13 runs short of the target.
Captain Shai Hope stepped in to secure the win, finishing off in the 26th over. The teams will face off again at the same venue on Saturday, with the final match scheduled for Wednesday in Barbados.