AFP, St. John’s :
Joe Root smashed an undefeated 90 as England claimed a four-wicket win over the West Indies on Sunday but he was quick to salute Chris Woakes and Jason Roy who also hit impressive half centuries.
All-rounder Woakes was not out on 68 while opener Roy made 52 to help England chase down a 226-run target and claim the second one-day international and the three-match series having won the opener by 45 runs at the same venue on Friday.
“Jason set the tone, and got us miles ahead of the rate,” said man of the match Root.
“I just told Chris to take his time to get in, and build together. He played exceptionally well, and it’s a sign of a good team that we don’t rely on one or two players.”
England were cantering towards their target on the back of Roy’s belligerent half-century at 108 for two in the 21st over.
But then the specialist spinners got the West Indies back into the match, triggering a slide which saw four England wickets tumbling for 16 runs.
Ashley Nurse returned his best-ever figures of three for 34 while Devendra Bishoo claimed two for 43.
However with fast bowler Shannon Gabriel unavailable after an opening three-over spell because of a side strain, captain Jason Holder resorted to part-time spinners on a helpful track without success.
Woakes, the more adventurous of the seventh-wicket pairing in a stand that put on an unbroken 102 runs, was missed at long-on by substitute fielder Rovman Powell off Carlos Brathwaite in what was the West Indies’ last real chance of staying in the game and squaring the series.
He was dropped again, by Holder at mid-off off Kraigg Brathwaite in the 47th over, by which time England were on the verge of victory.
Root struck just three boundaries in a controlled innings, his only blemish being an edge off Bishoo between the wicketkeeper and slip.
