Bairstow century propels England to easy win over WI

An unbeaten century from Jonny Bairstow helped England stroll to a seven-wicket victory over West Indies in the opening match of their one-day series at Old Trafford yesterday.With England set a modest target of 205 in a match reduced to 42 overs per side because of a weather-delayed start, the outcome was never really in doubt, and the main question was if Bairstow had time to reach three figures for the first time in ODIs.Bairstow got there in the 31st over and a few balls later Ben Stokes sealed the win by launching Ashley Nurse over the boundary rope.West Indies’ defeat means they will have to qualify for the 2019 World Cup.They made a fast start to their innings with Chris Gayle, dropped by Joe Root in the first over, thumping three huge sixes as the visitors reached 45 without loss after five overs.Root made amends when he sprinted full steam to catch Gayle on the boundary for 37 and while Shai Hope (35), Marlon Samuels (17) and Jason Mohammed (18) all made starts, wickets fell at regular intervals with Stokes the main dangerman.Hope was superbly caught one-handed by man-of-the-match Bairstow on the mid-wicket boundary off of the bowling of Stokes, who finished with figures of three for 43.Jason Holder’s 41 not out helped West Indies past the 200-mark but it never looked like being enough.Alex Hales was caught off the bowling of Jerome Taylor for 19 but Root joined Bairstow for a second-wicket stand of 125 before Root was bowled by Kesrick Williams for 54.Williams also removed captain Eoin Morgan for 10 but Stokes joined Bairstow as England cantered home under the lights.The second match is at Trent Bridge tomorrow.SCORECARDWest IndiesC. Gayle c Root b Woakes 37E. Lewis c Hales b Ali 11S. Hope c Bairstow b Stokes 35M. Samuels c Buttler b Stokes 17J. Mohammed c Hales b Rashid 18R. Powell c Willey b Woakes 23J. Holder not out 41A. Nurse c Root b Rashid 1D. Bishoo b Willey 5J. Taylor c Buttler b Stokes 2K. Williams not out 0Extras (lb3, nb2, w9) 14Total (9 wkts, 42 overs) 204Fall of wickets: 1-45 (Lewis), 2-53 (Gayle), 3-103 (Hope), 4-107 (Samuels), 5-149 (Mohammed), 6-150 (Powell), 7-160 (Nurse), 8-187 (Bishoo), 9-202 (Taylor)Bowling: Woakes 8-0-41-2 (2w); Willey 6-0-39-1 (1w) Ali 2-0-5-1; Rashid 9-0-31-2; Plunkett 8-0-42-0 (2w); Stokes 9-0-43-3 (2nb, 4w)  EnglandJ. Bairstow not out 100A. Hales c Lewis b Taylor 19J. Root b Williams 54E. Morgan c Hope b Williams 10B. Stokes not out 23Extras (w4)  4Total (3 wkts, 30.5 overs) 210Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Hales), 2-156 (Root), 3-175 (Morgan)Bowling: Taylor 7-0-46-1 (1w); Holder 3-0-18-0; Williams 6-0-50-2 (1w); Nurse 8.5-0-48-0 (1w); Bishoo 6-0-48-0