BIRMINGHAM: Jacob Bethell struck a blistering 82 as England made an imposing 400-8 against the West Indies in the first One-day International here t Edgbaston on Thursday.

England are looking to end a seven-match losing streak in ODI cricket in what is Harry Brook’s first match since becoming their permanent white-ball captain.

It seemed they might fall short of a commanding total in the first of this three-match series when Ben Duckett (60), Brook (58) and Joe Root (57) all got out when well set after England were sent into bat.

But 21-year-old left-hander Bethell, who came in at 221-4 on his Warwickshire home ground, continued to punish a wayward West Indies attack where fast bowler Jayden Seales took four wickets but conceded an expensive 84 runs in nine overs.

Bethell and Will Jacks (39) put on exactly 100 runs in seven overs late on to take England from 287-5 to 387-6.

Barbados-born Bethell, still without a hundred in any form of senior cricket, fell off the first ball of the last over when he edged Seales to West Indies captain and wicket-keeper Shai Hope to end a 53-ball innings including eight fours and five sixes.

Earlier, new ODI opener Jamie Smith scored freely on both sides of the wicket until, on 37, his hard-hit pull off first-change Alzarri Joseph as well caught at mid-wicket by Brandon King. But England were still 90-1 at the end of the 10-over powerplay.

Left-hander Duckett cashed-in with a 34-ball fifty before he was superbly caught by Roston Chase at backward point off seamer Justin Greaves.

Root compiled a serene 60-ball fifty before he edged a drive off Seales to Hope and just when Brook was ready to cut loose, he carved Seales to deep cover where Keacy Carty held a fine low catch.

Bethell, however, ensured there was no respite for the bowlers, clubbing both Matthew Forde and Joseph for six before lofting Seales high over long-off.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2025