BAIRSTOW PLUNDERS 141 TO PUT A SMILE BACK ON FACE OF ENGLISH CRICKET

JONNY BAIRSTOW put a happy seal on England’s cricketing summer on the field with a blistering 141 not out to win the one-day series 4-0.

In what has been a difficult week for English cricket, Bairstow reminded the 10,415strong crowd that when it comes to playing the 50-over game there are few better sides in the world than this one.

They took the Windies apart in a bit of a mismatch, Jason Roy hitting 96 (dismissed, above) in an opening partnership of 156 before Joe Root took over and saw the team home to their 289 target alongside Bairstow with 12 overs to spare.

Skipper Eoin Morgan said: “I thought it was a brilliant performance. Jason has put in two powerful displays and Jonny getting a second hundred of his career and not taking his form lightly was outstanding.

“Today had the potential to be a lethargic performance but the determination and ruthlessness was outstanding.”

Bairstow added: “It has been an enjoyable series. Two hundreds is great and to come off the back of a disappointing Test series and have the faith shown in me and to respond is huge.”

Fans have been enjoying the return of Chris Gayle to this Windies line-up for the first time since the World Cup and they were not disappointed with his efforts at the Ageas Bowl, even if they wanted it to last a little longer.

After making just one from his first 15 balls he struck four consecutive sixes across two Jake Ball overs and five off of six deliveries on his way to 40. But England had a man who knew how to get him out, debutant Tom Curran doing what he had done for Surrey against Somerset last year, with Gayle well caught by Liam Plunkett off a slower ball. The Windies spluttered along after Gayle’s fireworks, with Marlon Samuels struggling to get going until he hit the first boundary in more than 21 overs. The next over he was out.