England skittled in St Lucia
West Indies need just 114 to draw the five-match series.
England turned in a batting horror show in the final one-day international, blown away for 113 by the West Indies’ rampant seam attack in St Lucia.
The humiliation of their lowest ever one-day total against the Windies at least had the benefit of being brief, with the hosts finishing the job in just 28.1 overs, leaving 131 balls unbowled.
Oshane Thomas was the star of the show, turning in a career-best five for 21, while knocks of 23 from Alex Hales and Jos Buttler were the best the tourists could muster.
Just three days after racking up the third highest total in their history, 418 for six, England’s ultra aggressive philosophy blew up in their faces.
On the most bowler-friendly surface of a high-scoring series – there was generous lift and carry and a little sideways movement – England simply failed to apply themselves.
Lessons went woefully unheeded as a succession of batsman failed to read the bounce or departed in familiar fashion.
Jonny Bairstow was first to go, playing on to a full, swinging ball from Sheldon Cottrell, and Joe Root uppercut Jason Holder lazily to third man.
Carlos Brathwaite bowled a skillful spell, using his height and the springy track to tuck England up.
Hales cut one too close to his body and edged behind, while Ben Stokes took on a bouncer and brushed it to the wicketkeeper.
He was one of three to fall pulling, Thomas persuading Eoin Morgan to pick out fine leg and Chris Woakes looping horribly to mid-on.
The 22-year-old Jamaican benefited from an ugly swing from Moeen Ali, who made 12 but was inches away from a golden duck, and removed England’s best hope of revival when Buttler top-edged anxiously into the on-side.
Holder returned to see off Adil Rashid with a beauty before Thomas wrapped things up next ball, scattering Tom Curran’s stumps as he backed away to leg.
