Ramdin ton not enough as England win game, series

Earlier, Joe Root battled through the considerable pain of a sore right thumb —the result of a blow inflicted by fast-medium bowler Ravi Rampaul at the start of his innings — to stroke his first hundred in this form of the game while Jos Buttler fell one run short of his own first ODI ton to take England to 303/6.

Record stand

Root, who was named man of the match, and Buttler put on 175 for the fifth wicket after the innings was at a crossroads when Sunil Narine bowled the experienced Eoin Morgan to reduce England to 116 for four in the 24th over.

West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo finished with three wickets. Wicketkeeper-batsman Buttler was left to rue an attempt to sneak his 100th run in the final over as he only succeeded in spooning a catch back to the bowler Rampaul. The West Indies batting again failed to fire and not even the inclusion of Marlon Samuels seemed capable of halting the slide.

However Ramdin played the innings of his life, dominating half-century partnerships with Bravo and Darren Sammy before taking on the improbable task on.

Two sixes in one over off James Tredwell took him to the century-mark, yet just when it seemed England were poised to self-destruct under the pressure, Bresnan produced the perfect yorker to end Ramdin’s effort and seal victory.