England secure series win as Oval run-fest ends in damp squib

As the crowds streamed into the Kia Oval ahead of Wednesday fourth one day international the talk was of anything but the match ahead.

Should Gary Balance have been recalled for the Ashes?

What about James Vince?! Surely his form for Hampshire hasn’t been good enough to justify the call-up?

And how on earth did Ben Stokes break his finger? (Nobody could quite get to the bottom of that Bristol mystery.)

The focus of the capacity crowd didn’t sharpen when the prized wicket of Chris Gayle was claimed by Chris Woakes in the opening over.

A slightly sticky afternoon in south London threatened to be dominated by future matches rather than the here and now.

That was until Evin Lewis got going.

Gayle’s less celebrated opening partner was always likely to be one of the main threats to England, but his knock of 176 was the most notable so far in his burgeoning career – and the fourth highest ever in the format by a West Indian batsman.

Only a painful blow to the foot with three overs of West Indies’ innings remaining halted Lewis tremendous effort, with the opener being carried off the field on a stretcher to a standing ovation from an already lubricated Oval crowd.

Lewis’ ton ensured the match would deliver enough of a distraction from the off-field issues to keep the viewers’ attention, and with that it was over to England to respond (minus Stokes and Alex Hales of course).

Jason Roy proved that there’s plenty of life left in his international career with a lively 84 at the top of the order, but England faltered in the early evening light, with two sensational catches leaving the home side in real trouble. Substitute fielder Kyle Hope pulled off a beauty on the boundary to dismiss Eoin Morgan, but better was to come when Chris Gayle stretched out his not insignificant fame to clutch on to a low diving catch at first slip to remove the unfortunate Sam Billings.

With rain on the way England were in trouble, but an excellent stand between Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali lit up the increasingly gloomy evening, with the pair adding an ultimately match-winning stand of 77 in eight overs.

Ali’s knock was particularly entertaining, with the in-form all-rounder bludgeoning 48 runs off 25 balls to continue is remarkable streak with the willow.

Ali and Buttler’s contribution was all the more impressive given it was clearly produced with the impending rain in mind, inching England ahead on DLS at the crucial moment.

And when the heavens finally opened the glowing scoreboard showed that a six-run lead would wrap up the series for the hosts.

England’s lengthy summer of cricket concludes at the Rose Bowl in the fifth and final ODI on Friday.