Joe Root battled the pain of a blow to his thumb to score his first one-day international hundred and Jos Buttler fell one run short of his own maiden century as England posted an imposing 303 for 6 in the deciding match of the series. The pair added 175 for the fifth wicket, England's second-highest stand for that wicket in ODIs, in by far the most complete batting performance of either side over the three matches so far.
The innings was in the balance at the midway mark, West Indies having removed four wickets to even out Moeen Ali's maiden half-century, but the impish batting of Root and Buttler meant England did not stall from a potentially tricky 116 for 4. There was a key moment when Buttler had 22 and successfully overturned a caught behind decision and earlier Root had been given a life on 23 when Denesh Ramdin could not gather an outside edge off Sunil Narine.
England played Narine cautiously for most of his allotment but his ninth over cost 21 as Buttler twice cleared the boundary - the second occasion off a free-hit. The batting Powerplay had not proved to be the downfall it so often seems, bringing a consolidating 36 in the five overs, which set up a final 10 overs that accrued 94. Although the pitch is being used for the third game in a row extensive work since the previous game meant it was not as turgid as had been feared.
Root's hundred came from 112 balls but Buttler could not quite join him when he got a leading edge in the final over. Regardless, with this tour being about England's future, it will have been immensely heartening for Ashley Giles.
Root had started his innings facing a hat-trick delivery from Dwayne Bravo after the West Indies captain had removed Michael Lumb and Ben Stokes. He calmly defended the delivery, but was in some severe discomfort a short while later when a ball from Ravi Rampaul climbed at him from a good length, striking a nasty blow on the thumb of his bottom hand.
He needed several minutes of treatment, some strapping and a dose of painkillers before resuming and then had to ensure his thumb did not seize up during a brief rain break. He continued to shake his hand throughout the innings, especially when the ball struck higher up his bat, but in a tremendous display of focus and application did not let it impact his strokeplay. This was also another window into Root's character, coming as he has after a tour of Australia where he was dropped from both the Test and one-day sides.
Buttler had missed out in the first two matches of the series when his finishing skills were needed, but in this innings reminded that he can set a total as well as hunt one down. Early on he still barely knew what Narine was bowling, but reigned in his ambitions to attack him knowing that there was easier fare on offer from the other end.
After bringing up his fifty off 56 deliveries he then opened his shoulders to pick up four sixes, forming an ideal contrast to Root who, while possessing the power to clear the ropes, played the anchor role and ran West Indies ragged.
The other significant innings came from Moeen who batted fluently to enhance the positive reputation he has made on this tour. He placed the ball deftly on both sides of the wicket, with the pick of his early shots a drive wide of mid-off.
One of the players uncapped before the series, Moeen had twice made starts in the previous matches before picking out fielders on the boundary. He was still not afraid to loft the ball, reaching his fifty with a slog-swept six off Marlon Samuels, but with a more significant score for the taking chipped a return catch to Nikita Miller.
In the next over, Narine spun one back between Eoin Morgan's inside edge to abruptly end his first innings of the series after injury but a partnership between two players seen as central to England's future meant that his failure did not end the prospects of a commanding total.
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