England rush to 3-0 series win as Smith, Buttler star in rain-reduced chase
Traffic jams cause delayed start as hosts make up for lost time in final ODI at Kia Oval
Traffic jams cause delayed start as hosts make up for lost time in final ODI at Kia Oval
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Alan Gardner
8.53pm: Time for the presentations at T'Oval, starting with Player of the Match Jamie Smith: [Pleased?] "Yeah, especially at my home ground, to go out and give the team a good start. Enjoyed the freedom, have the backing of the team to go out and play that way. It's not always going to go well but just turn up the next day and go again. Fine balance between being positive and not reckless. [Duckett] Across all formats, he's done it for a long period of time. Nice to get a partnership together."
Player of the Series is Joe Root: [Secret of success?] "Being consistent within practice, trying to stay ahead of what the opposition are thinking, trends, how can you can expand your game, different bowler types. That's been the key for me for a long period of time. Try to dovetail with your partner, read the situation and then manipulate the opposition. [ODI team] Some exciting players and I'm excited to be part of it moving forward. [India Tests] Nice to have a bit of a break, but still work to be done to be firing for that."
West Indies captain Shai Hope: "Always a positive you can take, good to see Keacy Carty's form, Alzarri Joseph taking key wickets through the middle to keep us in the game in Cardiff. [World Cup qualification vs developing side?] We have to try to deepen the pool as best you can, but we have to rely on our experience players. We need to win a lot more games."
England captain Harry Brook: "The way we started off at Edgbaston was amazing, to get 400 on the board. The win today was awesome, we've been talking about being dominant. Talked about being 2-0 up and trying to close out the series. Jacksy has been mega down the order, Bethell as well, matchwinning at Edgbaston, and Smudge tonight, he took the game away. [Balance of XI] There's going to be opportunities for Beth and Jacksy to bowl overs, and I like the depth of the batting."
Okay, folks. That's a wrap for us today. The forecast wasn't promising, then West Indies got stuck in traffic - but England overcame all hurdles to race away to a series whitewash. Matt Roller's report will tell the tale, and then we'll be switching formats for the T20Is. Thanks for your comments, as always. Make sure to join us for England Women taking on West Indies in the second ODI from Leicester tomorrow. Cheerio!
8.43pm: Jos Buttler ices the chase to put the cherry on England's first series under his successor, Harry Brook. Another heavy defeat for West Indies, who stuttered and stumbled with the bat either side of the rainfall, and never looked likely to defend a DLS-adjusted target of 246 after Jamie Smith's 25-ball fifty got England off to a flyer. The tourists were late to arrive and will go home early tonight, needing a bit of a reset before the T20Is begin on Friday
Seales replaces Motie
"Buttler obviously has to get away, he's got a wedding to go to this evening!" snorts Will
Former captain could have been forgiven for wishing he'd been in Ahmedabad, but he was fully present at the Kia Oval
Traffic jams cause delayed start as hosts make up for lost time in final ODI at Kia Oval
Traffic-light outage near the ground causes issue for team bus on journey from Chelsea
England's first bilateral ODI win since 2023 gives McCullum's white-ball reign some traction at last