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Jonny Bairstow seizes chance with unbeaten century as England crush West Indies in Old Trafford ODI

Happy in his new role: Jonny Bairstow looked very comfortable opening the batting - Action Images via Reuters
Happy in his new role: Jonny Bairstow looked very comfortable opening the batting - Action Images via Reuters

England gave West Indies a lesson in how to bat in one day cricket as Jonny Bairstow fully justified his position as an opener with a fine century in an easy victory for his team.

The seven wicket defeat confirmed West Indies will now have to go through a qualifying tournament early next year to play in the 2019 World Cup, a summation of how far their one-day cricket has fallen.

They had to win this series either 4-0 or 5-0 to stay in the top eight in the rankings, the cut off for World Cup qualification, but after this result it will be England eyeing up such a thumping win.

Nothing here suggested England’s well grooved one-day side have anything to fear bar a few blows from Chris Gayle’s bat. Bairstow last week pleaded for a chance to have a long run at a one-day place after 27 games spread over six years.

He was given his wish as England decided to show loyalty after picking him to open in the Champions Trophy semi-final at the expense of Jason Roy.

He proved one day batting is about more than biffing boundaries, running brilliantly between the wickets with Joe Root as the two Yorkshiremen put on a 125 in just under 20 overs in a sparky second wicket stand.

Root eased his way to 54, and in doing so became the highest run scorer in one day cricket since the last World Cup, while Bairstow’s maiden one day century came off 97 balls and included 11 fours. Bairstow did not take risks, the low total meant he did not have to, and played in a more controlled fashion than in the recent Test series. This was focussed hitting with fine placement combined with scampering between the wickets that contrasted starkly with West Indies’s batting.

Their innings fizzled out after Gayle’s early hits and they showed their lack of 50 over knowhow with batsmen unable to keep the scoreboard moving or the patience to play the long innings. Eoin Morgan marshalled his bowlers well and they adapted well to the surface, changing pace and keeping the ball out of the hitting areas of West Indies’ T20 blasters. West Indies had raced to 43 off five overs but managed only another 161 off the other 37 eating up 142 dot balls in the process, around 56 percent of the balls bowled. It is no wonder they are ninth in the world.

Shai Hope showed flashes of his Test match class but failed in his job of seeing the innings through. Hope was one of several West Indians to drill catches to fielders in the deep leaving colleagues the tough task of having to come in and try and hit boundaries straight away against bowlers who had calibrated the pace of the pitch.

Marlon Samuels was one of the experienced players West Indies desperately need to deliver in this series but he could not get his innings going, failing to hit a boundary in 66 balls before gifting his wicket to, of all people, Stokes by flicking a catch down the legside. Stokes, aware of the stump mic, said nothing and instead gave Samuels the icy stare that spoke more than words.

Gayle had been dropped third ball at second slip by Root but this was a much improved England fielding performance from the Test series. Root made amends with a good swirling catch taken over his shoulder to dismiss Gayle and Bairstow grabbed a smart chance off Samuels at deep square leg, another reason why this gifted cricketer should be an ODI regular.

Morgan captained his players well, shrewdly bringing on Moeen Ali in the sixth over as he reacted to Gayle’s blast, the earliest England have turned to a spinner in a home ODI, and he also consistently gets the best out of Adil Rashid. His ten overs cost just 32 runs with Morgan setting attacking fields sensing the West Indies were all about boundaries hence happy to take risks.

Stokes and Chris Woakes bowled cutters and slower balls while Liam Plunkett’s bouncers in the middle overs were hard to get away. The only blemish was the final over of the innings. Stokes bowled two full toss no balls, conceded 15 runs as Jason Holder added a useful 41 off 33 balls but his team’s total was way under par.

The delayed start caused by overnight rain reduced the game to 42 overs per side and was one of those frustrating PR disasters that cricket specialises in as the game. Spectators booed the umpires and you can understand their anger having watched both teams warm up in bright sunshine by playing football. The outfield has been a problem all summer at Old Trafford and the two extra pop concerts hosted by Lancashire have made the groundsman’s job impossible. Scheduling five one-dayers in September gambles with the weather but counties are so desperate for the income from England matches that an already packed schedule is squeezed further and such delays are the pay off.

8:21PM

England beat West Indies by seven wickets

With 11.1 overs remaining.

"That," says Nasser Hussain. "Is a walloping."

Indeed it is. England all over Windies in every area, Jonny Bairstow will rightly take the plaudits. This was a very satisfying team performance.

West Indies, incidentally, have slumped so far in the ODI rankings that they will definitely have to go through qualifying to get to the next World Cup. They needed to win this series 5-0 or 4-0 with a no-result to get enough ranking points. Well, that ain't happening now. Anyway. That's for another day. Thanks for following this with us. Report and reaction coming up.

8:17PM

OVER 30.5: ENG 210/3 (Bairstow 100* Stokes 23*) chasing 205 from 42ov   

He's done it! Superb from Bairstow. He skips down the track, drives it out to deep cover and they run hard for three. Century from Bairstow! And he loves it.

Bairstow ton - Credit: Sky Sports Cricket
Credit: Sky Sports Cricket

... and the fellows on the balcony like it too...

England balcony - Credit: Sky Sports Cricket
Credit: Sky Sports Cricket

Windies misfield take England on to 204, the scores level. Ben Stokes finishes it with a huge six! England win.

8:13PM

OVER 30: ENG 199/3 (Bairstow 97* Stokes 15*) chasing 205 from 42ov                         

Bairstow moves within a hit by slashing a cut for four. Stokes hits a six off the last ball of the over! Steady Ben. Leave some for our boy...

8:10PM

OVER 29: ENG 186/3 (Bairstow 91* Stokes 8*) chasing 205 from 42ov                        

Bairstow manages to keep the strike with one off the last ball of the Nurse over. Bairstow into the nineties.

8:08PM

OVER 28: ENG 183/3 (Bairstow 89* Stokes 7*) chasing 205 from 42ov                       

Stokes slashes and edges wide of gully! Better shot later in the over when he hoys a full toss away for four. Only intrigue now is whether Stokes can help Bairstow to his ton. Camera, and James Anderson, pick out GP Thorpe on the balcony. He famously left Alex Tudor high and dry on 99* in an Edgbaston Test.

8:03PM

WICKET! Morgan c Hope b Williams 10

Well, well! Excellent ball in any match situation, quick and a decent length, nibbles away. Caught behind. FOW 175/3

Just 10 for the captain today. He's had a fine 2017 with the bat in ODIs, though: 16 innings, average 51, three tons and three fifties.

8:01PM

OVER 27: ENG 175/2 (Bairstow 88* Morgan 10*) chasing 205 from 42ov                      

Like Jacob Rees-Mogg faced with a confusing feeling, Holder turns to Nurse.

Nurse skates the ball past the outside edge of Bairstow's bat.

7:58PM

OVER 26: ENG 172/2 (Bairstow 86* Morgan 9*) chasing 205 from 42ov                     

Couple more quick singles. The difference between the two sides has been how brilliantly Bairstow and partners have rotated the strike. Windies allowed far too many dot balls during the middle portion of the innings.

Sky here with the killer stat.

Dot ball percentages at Old Trafford - Credit: Sky Sports Cricket
How the match was won: dot ball percentages at Old Trafford Credit: Sky Sports Cricket

7:54PM

OVER 25: ENG 165/2 (Bairstow 82* Morgan 6*) chasing 205 from 42ov                    

The cakewalk continues. I've got a Toffee Crisp to keep me company as England stroll towards this win. Oh no I haven't, I've eaten it. You don't get a lot of bang for your buck with a chocowock these days, do you?

No Toffee Crisp, but Morgan does have a nice four through the covers. Taylor digs the ball in, it balloons over the batsman for a wide.

7:47PM

OVER 24: ENG 159/2 (Bairstow 82* Morgan 1*) chasing 205 from 42ov                   

Eoin off the mark first ball.

7:43PM

WICKET! Root b Williams 54

Change of bowling does the trick! Decent ball outside off, angling in a bit. Root tries to guide it to third man, I guess, but it's not the right shot: it's far too close to his body for that caper, and he ends up chopping on to his stumps. FOW 156/2

Eoin Morgan comes to the crease, England need 49 from 110 balls.

7:40PM

OVER 23: ENG 152/1 (Bairstow 79* Root 52*) chasing 205                  

Taylor. A trio of twos in this over to Root, the second of which brings up yet another neatly made half century in England colours, and the third of which really should have been just a single. These boys are quick between the wickets.

7:31PM

OVER 22: ENG 146/1 (Bairstow 79* Root 46*) chasing 205                 

Bishoo not helped by his point fielder, who lets the ball through his legs to turn 0 into 2. The suffering bowler's next ball is a long-hop. Hoofed to the boundary by Joe. Another short ball later in the over, Bairstow is back, and slaps it through extra cover for four. Oh my goodness, now another short delivery. Bairstow has all the time in the world to smash that as well. Awful over from Bishoo, 15 off it, and West Indies could really do with these drinks.

7:27PM

OVER 21: ENG 131/1 (Bairstow 71* Root 39*) chasing 205                

Last throw of the dice, if it's not too late for that. The sole wicket-taker comes back. Taylor produces four dot balls. Bairstow, though, produces a nice cut shot for four when offered width. Looking good for hundred here, is YJB.

7:23PM

OVER 20: ENG 126/1 (Bairstow 67* Root 38*) chasing 205               

Two boundaries to YJB! One a thumping cuff, the other a streaky affair through third man.

England have run 48 ones, that's fantastic. Really makes life so hard for the fielders - and for the bowlers to get a plan going. Excellent.

7:21PM

OVER 19: ENG 114/1 (Bairstow 57* Root 36*) chasing 205              

Nurse. Six runs off the over. Holding: "it's not that these are bowling badly, it's that they don't have enough runs on the board to create pressure."

7:17PM

OVER 18: ENG 108/1 (Bairstow 56* Root 31*) chasing 205             

Good over this from Bishoo. Big turner to start it. Then the slider that hurries on. Bairstow just gets bat on that. Perhaps rattled, Bairstow now tries a heave across the line. Misses. Appeal for a stumping...

Bairstow stumping appeal - Credit: Sky Sports Cricket
Credit: Sky Sports Cricket

..but he is fine. 

7:14PM

OVER 17: ENG 106/1 (Bairstow 55* Root 30*) chasing 205            

Nurse doing a solid job,  I guess, but no real wicket threat.

7:13PM

OVER 16: ENG 99/1 (Bairstow 51* Root 29*) chasing 205           

Bairstow has waited for a long time to get his chance in ODI cricket, and he is taking it with both hands. Bishoo airs a ball out, Bairstow cuts it behind point, and he's got a nice fifty.

7:06PM

OVER 15: ENG 94/1 (Bairstow 47* Root 28*) chasing 205          

Two again off Nurse.

7:04PM

OVER 14: ENG 92/1 (Bairstow 46* Root 27*) chasing 205         

Root crunches a sweep, lovely shot. Bishoo's turned one, Nurse turned one in the previous over, but it's pretty slim pickins for the twirlymen.

7:03PM

OVER 13: ENG 84/1 (Bairstow 43* Root 22*) chasing 205        

Couple off Nurse.

6:58PM

OVER 12: ENG 82/1 (Bairstow 42* Root 21*) chasing 205       

If there is hope, it lies with the spinners. Bishoo comes on. Can he spark a panic? A previous vintage of England ODI batsman: absolutely! But this pair are used to being in control, and they work Bishoo for a comfortable six.

6:56PM

Gorgeous shot

from Chennai Manchester

Sky Sports camerawork at Old Trafford - Credit: Sky Sports Cricket
Credit: Sky Sports Cricket

6:54PM

OVER 11: ENG 76/1 (Bairstow 37* Root 20*) chasing 205      

Nurse. Root. Reverse sweep. Premeditated, nicely executed. Four. Three singles to go with.

6:52PM

OVER 10: ENG 69/1 (Bairstow 36* Root 14*) chasing 205     

Jimmy Anderson reckons that this Williams has a "surprise bouncer". "Maybe a bit quicker than people think or hard to pick up." Joe Root here has a go at said bouncer, is a tiny bit late on it, but just about in control.

6:50PM

Lovely shot on Sky Sports Cricket

Old Trafford at dusk - Credit: Sky Sports Cricket
Credit: Sky Sports Cricket

6:48PM

OVER 9: ENG 63/1 (Bairstow 33* Root 11*) chasing 205    

Spin. Ashley Nurse. Bairstow slots the ball expertly through the covers. That's the end of the first powerplay, and England can be well satisfied.

6:47PM

How's about this for a late summer cricket scene?

6:43PM

OVER 8: ENG 56/1 (Bairstow 27* Root 10*) chasing 205   

First change. It's Kesrick Williams. 80-odd mph. Full. Onto Bairstow's pads, clipped for four. Nine off that over as well.

6:40PM

OVER 7: ENG 47/1 (Bairstow 19* Root 9*) chasing 205  

Taylor continues. Root pulls his bumper, doesn't get all of it but fine leg is up and this is good enough. Four for that, singles and a two make this into another comfortable over. Nine from it.

West Indies need a disruptor.

6:34PM

OVER 6: ENG 38/1 (Bairstow 15* Root 4*) chasing 205 

Quick single, called for Bairstow, would have seen his County colleague gone for all money had Holder been able to hit. No real need, Jonny.

Six off the over, six singles. I would say that only overconfidence, or possibly spin bowling, can deny England here.

6:32PM

If you're in the area...

6:29PM

OVER 5: ENG 32/1 (Bairstow 12* Root 1*) chasing 205

Root, welcomed to the crease to the strains of Thunderstruck by AC/DC, takes a single off the last ball of the over.

6:24PM

WICKET! Hales c Lewis b Taylor 19

That's a real shame, he was timing the ball just lovely. The ball before, he stroked Taylor back down the ground for a glorious straight. But, having looked in command, he's slapped one to point. Caught at the second attempt. FOW 31/1

"Sometimes, it can almost feel a little TOO easy," notes Sir Ian Botham, shrewdly. Hales had the look of a man who thought he could hit it anywhere he wanted. He could have gone aerial there, he could have hit it along the ground. In the end he did a bit of both. One of those dismissals that happens to you when you're IN touch rather than OUT.

6:23PM

OVER 4: ENG 27/0 (Bairstow 12* Hales 15*)   

Holder to Bairstow. Slower ball. Bairstow doesn't really pick it but commits to the shot and manages to muscle it home. Bottom-handed heave over mid on for four.

6:18PM

OVER 3: ENG 22/0 (Bairstow 7* Hales 14*)  

Crunchy pull from Hales for four, then he tucks a ball nicely off the pads for two. Taylor with a decent yorker. England's openers looking comfortable.

Alex Hales bats - Credit: Getty
Credit: Getty

6:17PM

OVER 2: ENG 16/0 (Bairstow 7* Hales 8*) 

Holder to take the other new ball. Bairstow has his first boundary, flaying a full ball for four.

6:11PM

OVER 1: ENG 9/0 (Bairstow 1* Hales 8*)

Single to YJB. Now Hales hoicks the ball to leg for four. Clips the next one through midwicket where Mohammed should cut it off and keep this to a couple: he reaches the ball, tries to flick it back, and somehow manages to scoop it over the rope! Embarrassing.

6:05PM

Here we got then. 205 the target.

It's Taylor to bowl, and Bairstow to face. He has opened once before for England, v Pakistan in the Champions Trophy at Cardiff this summer.

6:04PM

Players are back out

It's a lovely evening.

Jonny Bairstow took a smart catch to dismiss Shai Hope - Credit: Getty
Celebration: Jonny Bairstow took a smart catch to dismiss Shai Hope Credit: Getty

5:42PM

West Indies 204/9 (Holder 41* Williams 0*) off their 42

England need 205 to win

Crackling start from West Indies and it looked for a while like we might see something very special from Chris Gayle. But he was second man out, just near the end of the powerplay, leaving them 53/2 off nine overs.

Things shuddered to a halt, canny bowling from Stokes sandbagging the West Indies. His pal Marlon made a grim and grinding 17 in 46 balls, and it was only a game 41* from Holder that took them to any sort of score. England really ought to win from here, but we shall see.

5:38PM

OVER 42: WI 204/9 (Holder 41* Williams 0*)  

Stokes. Starts with a chest-high beamer, apologises right away, Holder accepts it in good grace. Just slipped out. Bit of poor decision-making from Holder though: it's obviously a no ball, and Holder decides to hare up the other end. That means the free-hit will fall to Taylor, who makes a pig's ear of it. 

Holder is desperate to get down the other end. Morgan at backward point has a chance to throw at the stumps. misses. Holder back on strike then.

Third ball of the over, bouncer, Holder top edges the pull for four.

Fourth ball, another beamer! Stokes is lucky that the umpire doesn't give him the hook. Two beamers in an over should be off. Umpire gives him the B of the D, saying that the second one wasn't all that dangerous as it was too wide. Free hit: Holder slaps it to long on, some of the crowd think it's a catch.

That brings Taylor on strike...

WICKET! Taylor c Buttler b Stokes 2 Simply heaves it up in the air, keeper has a simple chance. FOW 202/9

Last ball coming up...

Holder chips it down the ground for a couple and that completes rather an eccentric last over from Stokes. 15 runs off it. Useful knock from the skipper, 41* off 33 giving his team a bit of impetus at the end. But will it be enough?

A wet outfield meant the match was reduced to 42 hours per side - Credit: getty images
A wet outfield meant the match was reduced to 42 hours per side Credit: getty images

5:29PM

OVER 41: WI 189/8 (Holder 29* Taylor 1*)        

Jerome Taylor gets one off his first ball, Holder manages to pinch the strike off the last ball of it. Earlier in the over, he'd cracked one down the ground for four.

Willey is done: six overs, one for 39. On the wrong end of an assault early on, recovered.

Last over coming up, Stokes the man to bowl it.

5:28PM

WICKET! Bishoo b Willey 5

The batsman's Holder, the bowler's Willey... actually, that's not right. The bowler's Willey the batsman's Bishoo, which makes no sense, and Devendra Bishoo has failed to make any sense of this full ball. He got down on one knee and tried to... sweep it? I guess. Anyway he's been bowled leg stump and that's FOW 187/8

5:24PM

OVER 40: WI 181/7 (Holder 23* Bishoo 4*)       

Absolute class from Stokes. Yorkers, slower balls, varying paces and lengths with a craftsman's touch. Three off it.

5:18PM

OVER 39: WI 178/7 (Holder 22* Bishoo 3*)      

Mixed bag from Plunkers: excellent yorker, wild wide, Holder and Bishoo heaving and smearing. No boundary, but nine runs by hook or by crook.

5:16PM

OVER 38: WI 169/7 (Holder 16* Bishoo 1*)     

Stokes. Holder's smeared one to down third man for a boundary, that streaky dish garlanded with a few singles and that's a better over all told for the tourists.

5:10PM

OVER 37: WI 161/7 (Holder 10* Bishoo 0*)    

Rashers completes the over, and his spell: excellent stuff. Two wickets for 31 off his (maximum allowed) nine.

5:09PM

WICKET! Nurse c Root b Rashid 1   

Nurse with an expansive drive through long off, times it pretty well  but maybe it needed a bit more welly. Floaty shot in the end, and look who is there, it's England's Test match captain Root, J and he's snaffled that without fuss. FOW 161/7

5:07PM

OVER 36: WI 159/6 (Holder 8* Nurse 1*)               

Stokes is a mean machine, there's nothing cheap on offer here. Just one off the over. Nine runs off the last three.

5:02PM

OVER 35: WI 158/6 (Holder 7* Nurse 1*)              

Powerplay. Trio of singles off Rashid.

5:00PM

OVER 34: WI 155/6 (Holder 5* Nurse 0*)             

Holder, admirable fellow, edges Woakes for four past the sole slip. He's joined by Ashley Nurse. I'm very much hoping Ashley can hit a six somewhere near the black board behind the bowler that they use to make the ball show up, so I can use my "Nurse! The Screens!" joke that I have been working on for, ooh, some time.

4:55PM

WICKET! Powell c Willey b Woakes 23

Neither fish nor flesh, that shot, as Powell tries to turn the ball to leg. Lacked vim. Ends up getting a leading edge, a rather wet little chip, and the ball dollops easily over the bowler's head. Willey had the simplest of catches running round from mid-on. FOW 150/6

West Indies in clear and present danger of being bowled out without using their overs.

4:52PM

OVER 33: WI 150/5 (Powell 23* Holder 0*)            

The batsmen crossed. Four balls left, and it's tidy stuff from Rashers. Powell gets one. Skipper on strike. Holder blocks. Over.

4:49PM

WICKET! Mohammed c Hales b Rashid 18

Well, he got away with it in the last Rashid over, but not this time. Rashid tosses it up, Mohammed slogs across the line, and Hales the man on the legside fence hardly has to move as the ball plops straight down his throat. FOW 149/5

Run-a-ball 18 from Mohammed at least added some impetus, though.

4:47PM

OVER 32: WI 149/4 (Mohammed 18* Powell 22*)           

Woakes on for a spell, and perhaps a chance to make amends for that drop. Varies his lengths well, just two off the over.

4:44PM

OVER 31: WI 147/4 (Mohammed 17* Powell 22*)          

Time for a bit of spin. Rashid. Long hop! Mohammed splatters it for six over midwicket, and also only a few feet over the head of Hales. He breaks his bat in the process. Nine off the over makes 40 off the last five and things are looking up for the Windies. Marlon was absolutely bogging them down.

4:40PM

OVER 30: WI 138/4 (Mohammed 9* Powell 21*)         

Powell edges the ball and gets four. Not a chanceless innings, but he's getting the scoreboard ticking. J Anderson, who is doing a really good stint in the commentary box, points out that Powell has an exceptional strike-rate against seam, and a poor one against spin. Should England get the spinner on, Anderson wonders?

Ah, how quickly they turn gamekeeper, these sportspeople!

4:36PM

OVER 29: WI 132/4 (Mohammed 8* Powell 17*)        

Shot of the day! Glorious from Powell. Just a lovely simple check drive, barely more than a push, and it simply flies back over the bowler's head. Just used the 87mph pace of the ball. Lovely stuff. Plunkett shrugs phlegmatically. Not a lot you can do about that, our Liam.

4:31PM

OVER 28: WI 123/4 (Mohammed 6* Powell 10*)       

Powell's lucky to be there! He pulls the ball, Chris Woakes runs in and drops the low chance. Not a gimme, but having got there at deep backward square, a fielder as good as Chris would have expected to grab it. Perhaps a tad slow to get there? Powell celebrates his reprieve by crunching one down the ground for four. Ten off the over.

4:28PM

OVER 27: WI 113/4 (Mohammed 4* Powell 3*)      

I'm not too familiar with Rovman. Walloped a few in the T20 the other day. This is his 10th ODI, and his top score is the 44 he made on dayboo. Plunkett gives him the bouncer here, springs miles over his head. He chips the ball into the outfield for a couple. Couple of singles in the over as well, six off it in total, so that's a bit more encouraging for the tourists at least.

4:22PM

OVER 26: WI 107/4 (Mohammed 2* Powell 0*)     

Stokes keeps up his fine spell, and there's nowhere for Rovman Powell to go here.

4:21PM

WICKET! Samuels c Buttler b Stokes

Stokes has his man! And he's got him with rather a ropy ball, which will probably please him even more! No salute or send-off on this occasion, but instead a review. Ball down leg, Samuels fiddles at it, the umpire says not out and signals a wide. But England are convinced. Root at square leg leads the charge and Eoin Morgan is quick to review.

Samuels given out on review - Credit: Sky Sports Cricket
Samuels given out on review Credit: Sky Sports Cricket

Yep, this is going to be overturned. He's out! Stokes is delighted. FOW 107/4 

4:18PM

OVER 25: WI 106/3 (Samuels 17* Mohammed 2*)    

Plunkett doing a grand job as he keeps this pair quiet.

4:17PM

Samuels Salute

Reliving the Samuels Salute - Credit: Sky Sports Cricket
Reliving the Samuels Salute Credit: Sky Sports Cricket

Mike Atherton is asking James Anderson what Stokes's reaction was like to the Samuels Salute dismissal.

James Anderson: "Ben Stokes's general reaction is anger and rage when he gets out. In the reaction there were a few smirks but we knew that we couldn't be laughing when Ben got back!"

4:15PM

OVER 24: WI 104/3 (Samuels 16* Mohammed 1*)   

That brings  Jason Mohammed to the crease. Just one off this over as well. Windies going nowhere.

4:10PM

WICKET! Shai Hope c Bairstow b Stokes 35

Oh, this really feels like it isn't the West Indies day! Shai has properly pinged this, a perfectly-timed flick off the hips, but it has flown high into the air at deep square leg where Bairstow has taken a screamer! FOW 103/3

That could easily have been a six, he got every last bit of it, but the fielder was right there.

4:08PM

OVER 23: WI 103/2 (Hope 35* Samuels 16*)  

Plunkett keeps the pressure on with another tight and tidy over. Nothing much to hit, and such opportunities as there are keep finding the fielders.

4:00PM

OVER 22: WI 102/2 (Hope 34* Samuels 16*) 

This is ODI bowling of the highest class, Stokes varying his pace subtly and effectively. Sharp bumper in there, too. Shai Hope cannot lay a bat on him. That takes us up to drinks.

3:59PM

Thanks Bloomy

Tyers here, England applying some decent pressure. Here's Ben Stokes.

3:56PM

OVER 21: WI 101/2 (Hope 33* Samuels 16*)

Plunkett returns to the attack in place of Rashid and Samuels survives an attempted heave, mis-hitting the ball short of Root at mid-on. The run rate has dropped below five per over for the first time since over number one.

That's all from me. I shall hand over to Alan Tyers for the rest of the day.

3:51PM

OVER 20: WI 98/2 (Hope 32* Samuels 15*)

In the red corner we have Samuels and, for the first time today, in the blue corner we have Stokes. What does this head-to-head have in store? Well, Samuels pulls away just as Stokes is about to deliver the ball - that's bound to do their relationship a great deal of good.

3:47PM

OVER 19: WI 94/2 (Hope 30* Samuels 14*)

Rashid into his fifth over and he has been very economical so far. Samuels misses out on consecutive full tosses, slapping both of them to substitute fielder Roy at wide mid-on and the over goes for three runs.

3:44PM

OVER 18: WI 91/2 (Hope 28* Samuels 13*)

Marginally short again from Plunkett and the response is the same as the last over with Hope quickly on the pull to score four more.

He's a jolly good batsman is Shai Hope.

Shai hope - Credit: getty images
Credit: getty images

3:40PM

OVER 17: WI 85/2 (Hope 23* Samuels 13*)

Rashid has a huge appeal, imploring the umpire to stick his finger up after the ball strikes Samuels on the pad. I suspect his pad was outside the line of off stump and Morgan turns his back on the bowler before Rashid can make a case for a review.

3:37PM

OVER 16: WI 82/2 (Hope 23* Samuels 10*)

Plunkett comes into the attack for the first time today and Hope latches onto a ball that is barely inches short of a good length, but disappears nonetheless to the mid-wicket boundary for a sumptuously struck pull shot.

3:34PM

OVER 15: WI 74/2 (Hope 17* Samuels 8*)

More tight stuff from Rashid forces Hope into something of a slog sweep, which Hales restricts to a single with some excellent work out on the mid-wicket boundary.

3:31PM

OVER 14: WI 70/2 (Hope 15* Samuels 6*)

Still no Stokes v Samuels as Willey continues. Samuels bags a couple off a thick outside edge and it's all calmed down a little after the explosion of the two West Indies openers.

3:27PM

OVER 13: WI 67/2 (Hope 15* Samuels 3*)

Jimmy Anderson comes on air for his first Sky Sports commentary stint. And Hope greets his arrival by lumping into a full Rashid delivery and lofting it over wide-ish mid-wicket for four. That's all from the over though.

3:24PM

OVER 12: WI 63/2 (Hope 11* Samuels 3*)

Too much width offered by Willey, which allows Hope to have a big swish at it and pick up four off the edge - but all along the ground - through to the vacant third man area.

3:21PM

OVER 11: WI 57/2 (Hope 6* Samuels 2*)

England have clawed this back rather well with two wickets for 12 runs in the past five overs. Now Rashid comes into the attack and keeps the pressure on, sticking to tight lines with little width. Another couple of singles off the over.

3:17PM

OVER 10: WI 55/2 (Hope 5* Samuels 1*)

With Gayle gone, Morgan throws the ball back to Willey for another chance. Just two singles off the over.

3:14PM

OVER 9: WI 53/2 (Hope 4* Samuels 0*)

Redemption for Root after dropping Gayle earlier and Samuels is the new man in.

3:13PM

WICKET! Gayle c Root b Woakes 37

Gayle goes after one from Woakes, but doesn't get hold of and it lofts it over cover for two. The West Indies opener is looking frustrated here, with his lack of mobility causing problems. He only has one option and that is to go after every ball... but Root takes a blinder!!! The ball hits high on Gayle's bat and heads off in the direction of the extra-cover boundary. Root takes off in pursuit and dives backwards to take a wonderful catch over his head. FOW 53/2

root
root

3:06PM

OVER 8: WI 51/1 (Gayle 35* Hope 4*)

Gayle is not moving at all well, but no fireworks here. Just two singles from Moeen's over.

3:04PM

OVER 7: WI 49/1 (Gayle 34* Hope 3*)

Confusion among the batsmen and Gayle should have been run out. He dropped the ball down to third man and was called through for a quick single against his will. Gayle barely even attempted to make his ground and was nowhere near if the throw had hit... but it didn't. He's not in a good way though and appears to have told the umpire he's pulled his hamstring. If you thought he was playing shots before, you might see something spectacular now...

3:00PM

OVER 6: WI 46/1 (Gayle 33* Hope 1*)

The wicket brings Shai Hope to the crease and he nudges a single to get off the mark. The West Indies' star batsman from the Test series is also keeping today.

2:57PM

WICKET! Lewis c Hales b Moeen 11

Morgan had little choice but to make a change and he turns to Moeen to replace Woakes. The offie does the business almost straight away. It's not a great ball, banged in halfway down the track, but Lewis only succeeds in pulling the ball straight to Hales at square-leg, who holds on well. FOW 45/1

2:55PM

OVER 5: WI 43/0 (Gayle 32* Lewis 10*)

The runs are a-flowing. Now it's Lewis getting in on the act, standing beautifully upright to punch off the back foot and past the diving cover fielder for four. That was almost conventional.

2:51PM

OVER 4: WI 38/0 (Gayle 32* Lewis 5*)

These chaps are not afraid to hit the ball in the air. Lewis attempts a big pull shot off Willey, but only succeeds in chipping just short of the fielder haring in from deep square-leg. That brings Gayle onto strike and he repeats the same trick from the last over. This one was little more than a flick though, but the result is the same: six runs over long-on. Oh wow, the next one is BRUTAL. Overpitched from Willey and Gayle just gobbles it up. A simple full swing of the bat and the ball sails high and long, straight back over Willey's head for six more.

2:46PM

OVER 3: WI 24/0 (Gayle 20* Lewis 4*)

Woakes is causing problems here early on. This time Lewis launches an expansive cover drive, only to thick edge it in the direction of Morgan at point. The England captain dives full-stretch to his right but can't quite get a hand on it and Lewis takes two. Gayle then Stands. And. Delivers. Minimal foot movement, stand tall and BIFF over mid-on for four. He then repeats the trick with added panache, coupled with an abundance of brute force to loft the very next ball all the way for six. And to conclude proceedings a pulled four. Seventeen runs off the over.

2:39PM

OVER 2: WI 7/0 (Gayle 6* Lewis 1*)

Willey shares new ball duties and he immediately finds some away swing with his left-arm over wobblies. Gayle takes advantage of an over-pitched delivery to push a couple through point, before chipping Willey back over his head for two more as the ball plugs short of the boundary rope.

2:35PM

OVER 1: WI 1/0 (Gayle 1* Lewis 0*)

Woakes will kick things off with ball in hand and he fizzes it straight past Gayle's outside edge first ball, squaring the big man up along the way. Gayle leaves the second ball, goes after the third ball and HE'S DROPPED!!! It went through at shoulder height (a bit higher than he would have liked) to Root at second slip and the Test skipper put it down. That really should have been taken.

Drop
Drop

2:29PM

Here we go

The players out on the pitch and, two hours later than initially planned, we will have some cricket.

2:21PM

Team news

England: Alex Hales, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, David Willey

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Marlon Samuels, Jason Mohammed, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Devendra Bishoo, Jerome Taylor, Kesrick Williams

2:14PM

Rules and regulations

playing conditions
playing conditions

2:12PM

West Indies win toss and bat

Eoin Morgan says he would have batted as well if given the chance.

2:05PM

Here's the deal

Word from the umpires: "It has dried a little bit. It's still not great in those patches we were concerned with but we're willing to give it a go."

42 overs per side with a 30min break between innings.

2:04PM

WE HAVE CRICKET

1:48PM

No change

David Lloyd has just been showing us the outfield close up. He reckons the sun might be drawing the water to the surface, but there is no wind to take it away. He says pitch conditions have not changed one iota since everyone arrived this morning.

Apparently both captains are in full agreement with the umpires. There's barely a cloud in the sky in Manchester. Glorious autumn day. No cricket.

1:44PM

Not fit for play

This tweet comes after both teams took part in warm-up football matches on the outfield a little earlier:

1:25PM

Frustration

If you're wondering what the weather is like at Old Trafford currently...

sun
sun

1:23PM

Umpire update

More from our man Nick Hoult:

1:21PM

Not looking good

1:15PM

More delays

Not good news. No play for now and another inspection will take place at 2pm.

1:13PM

Deep in conversation

Morgan, Holder and all the match officials have been chatting for more than 10 minutes on the outfield now. Not sure what they could be saying to each other for so long.

1:07PM

No movement

The body language from the umpires is not good at all. They certainly seem to be in no hurry as they chat with Eoin Morgan and Jason Holder. Brace yourself for bad news.

1:03PM

Inspection ongoing

The umpires are out on the Old Trafford outfield, checking out the soggy spots. The Sky Sports team reckon conditions haven't changed at all over the past hour and are unlikely to improve - all this despite the sun shining in Manchester. What will the umpires decide?

12:47PM

He waits, that's what he does

12:46PM

News update

The inspection remains at 1pm, but the the latest news is that the innings interval has been reduced to just 15 minutes in a bid not to lose any overs from the match. Let's hope the Old Trafford dinner ladies do fast food.

12:39PM

Bravo a champion

Looking for ways to pass the time? Hit play and prepare to have it stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

12:23PM

Life as a cricket coach in Afghanistan

So, while we wait for the natural elements to do their thing, allow me to point you in the direction of some of our other cricket offerings and specifically this exclusive Nick Hoult interview with Adam Holliaoke. Below is a snippet from it and you can read the whole thing here. It's well worth a couple of minutes of your time.

Adam Hollioake thought he had seen it all in a sporting career that has covered everything from leading England to a one-day trophy, to a professional bout in mixed martial arts.

But that was before he took on a coaching role in Afghanistan's Shpageeza Cricket League, and found himself confronting the reality of daily life in Kabul. Last Wednesday, a bomb outside the Alokozay Kabul International Cricket Ground was detonated during a game between Hollioake’s Boost Defenders team and MIS Ainak Knights. Three people were killed, including the bomber, and 12 wounded. Several overseas players left soon after, but Hollioake insisted he wanted to stay.

"I decided not to walk out on the job until the job is done," he told the Daily Telegraph, from his temporary home in Afghanistan's capital city. "Also the people here have so much passion for cricket. Your first fear coming to this part of the world is security but I just did not want to walk out on them just because that would be an easy decision to make."

12:07PM

Umpires explain

There are a few patches that are very soft so we are concerned and we're just going to give it a little bit more time. The sun is coming out so hopefully it will dry out. The run ups have got a couple of soft spots, but principally the run ups are pretty good.

That's what the umpires had to say, but there's a bit of concern among the Sky Sports crew that the sun and wind won't be strong enough to make any significant impact in the space of an hour or two. One thing is certain: overs are going to be lost from this match. Gah, cricket is frustrating.

12:03PM

Delayed start

This isn't the news we were hoping for. There is no rain forecast today, but the start has been delayed due to the wet outfield. A pitch inspection will take place at 1pm.

11:48AM

Weather forecast

It's the all-important factor. And, thankfully, the forecast makes for pleasant reading:

Forecast - Credit: met office
Credit: met office

11:43AM

The rivalry resumes

11:00AM

Match preview

It is September 19 and time for a new series of international cricket to begin. Ignore the ever darkening/shortening days and chilly weather and everything will feel alright.

After the Test series and the one-off T20 comes a five-match England vs West Indies ODI series to conclude the summer of international cricket. Today's first match takes place at Old Trafford and is a day-night affair with play due to begin at 12.30pm.

What is at stake? Ranked ninth in the world, West Indies did not even qualify for the Champions Trophy at the start of the summer and are in danger of missing out on automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup. In order to guarantee a spot, they would need to win this series either 5-0 or 4-0 - a prospect that appears hugely unlikely.

A softening in relations between the West Indies players and their board mean the likes of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels are back in international jerseys and the latter of that duo could provide one of the spiciest sub-plots as he resumes battle with Ben Stokes.

Gayle and Samuels rejoin a side that recently drew 1-1 with Afghanistan at home and have not won a series against anyone beyond Ireland, Zimbabwe or Bangladesh for five years. You can make that 10 years when on the road.