England have recorded a six-wicket victory over West Indies to level their three-match one-day international series.
West Indies pummeled the England bowling attack in the opener on Sunday, completing a record ODI run chase in Antigua, but they could not replicate that effort three days later.
The hosts were reduced to 23-4 after seven overs with Sam Curran responding to an ineffective showing at the weekend by posting figures of 3-33.
Although Shai Hope (68) and Sherfane Rutherford (63) put together a 129-run fifth wicket stand, the dismissal of the latter led to another collapse, handing England full control.
Gus Atkinson (2-28), Rehan Ahmed (2-40) and Liam Livingstone (3-39) all impressed as England rattled through the remainder of the West Indies order, bowling them out for 202 after just 39.4 overs.
England would have not taken a successful run chase as a foregone conclusion but when Phil Salt and Will Jacks put together 50 off the first six overs, it was a long way back for the home side.
A first 5⃣0⃣ in 15 innings 🏏
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 6, 2023
5⃣,0⃣0⃣0⃣ ODI runs
Jos Buttler is 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 👊#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/eujEuynwBq
Salt (21), Zak Crawley (3) and Ben Duckett) were dismissed to leave England on 85-3, yet Jacks's 73 from 72 balls kept things ticking over after that.
He was out before the 20-over mark with England on 116-4, but that enabled Harry Brook (43*) and Jos Buttler (58*) to join forces to help England cruise over the line with 103 deliveries remaining.
After a dismal run of form, Buttler's 58 from 45 was particularly noteworthy as he brought up 5,000 runs in the ODI format, and the England skipper will hope that he can build on that morale-boosting performance in the decider on Saturday.
