World Cup 2019: 3 factors that played a big role in England's win over West Indies
England beat the West Indies by eight wickets at Southampton on Friday to jump to the second spot in the World Cup 2019 points table. This was another near-perfect performance from the tournament favourites; the hosts have now won three of their four matches.
The fielding was the only blemish for the hosts, while the bowling was superb as England restricted the West Indies to 212 all out. Jofra Archer took 3-30 while Mark Wood picked up 3-18.
England then reached the target comfortably with Joe Root (100 not out) top-scoring. With all the areas covered, England are proving why they are serious contenders for the title.
On the other hand the West Indies are in a completely different situation after Friday's match. Their performance was below par: their batting was ill-disciplined and their bowling was one-dimensional.
They went out playing big shots when a single would have been a better option. They will have to improve significantly ahead of their next match against Bangladesh on 17 June.
Let us look at three factors that played a big role in England's win over West Indies.
#3 Good start with the ball
England could not have asked for a better start by their bowlers on Friday.
They conceded only eight runs from the first five overs. Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes troubled the West Indies batsmen early on; the duo swung the ball prodigiously in overcast conditions at Southampton.
Woakes bowled Evin Lewis (2 runs) to pick up the first wicket. The visitors were in trouble after only three overs.
Chris Gayle batted slowly in the following overs but he accelerated once he was set. Gayle hit two successive boundaries in the sixth over; the first one was struck powerfully back past the bowler (Archer).
Gayle then smashed Woakes for 11 runs from the ninth over, which included a straight six. He advanced down the pitch and connected well, sending the ball soaring into the stands.
The West-Indies ended their first 10 overs at 41-1, but England were still in control.
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