Ton-up Ali too much for Windies

Bristol  : Moeen Ali’s blazing century set up England’s 124-run victory over West Indies in the third one-day international at Bristol yesterday as the hosts went 2-0 up with two to play in a five-match series.

Ali’s 53-ball ton -- with his second fifty coming off just 12 deliveries -- was the cornerstone of England’s imposing 369 for nine.

West Indies were in with a chance so long as the big-hitting Chris Gayle was making 94.

But when the veteran opener, who missed the rainswept no-result in the second ODI at Trent Bridge on Thursday with a hamstring injury suffered warming up on his 38th birthday, was run out the tourists’ hopes of winning disappeared with him.

West Indies were eventually dismissed for 245, with fast bowler Liam Plunkett taking five for 52 -- his maiden ODI five-wicket haul -- as England won with 65 balls to spare. 

Earlier, all-rounder Ali sprinted to his hundred with nearly half of his runs coming via eight sixes, before he fell for 102.

His century also included seven fours, with the left-hander needing a mere 12 balls for his second fifty.

England’s total was their largest in a one-day international against West Indies, surpassing their 328 for seven at Edgbaston in 2009, and their fifth-largest in this format overall.

Man-of-the-match Ali’s hundred was also the second quickest by an England batsman at this level after Jos Buttler’s 46-ball ODI century against Pakistan in Dubai in 2015.

England lost three wickets for 11 runs to be 217 for six in the 35th over.

But a partnership of 117 in 76 balls between Ali and Chris Woakes (34) turned the tide in a match that featured 28 sixes in total.

Joe Root (84) and Ben Stokes (73) had laid the platform for a large total with a fourth-wicket stand of 132 in 20 overs.