Ramdin heroics not enough to save ODI series

ST. JOHN´S: Joe Root´s maiden one-day century and Jos Buttler´s brilliant 99 set up England´s 25-run victory over West Indies in the third and final one-day international on Wednesday, clinching the tourists a 2-1 series win.

Chasing 304 in the series-deciding match, West Indies slumped to 43-4 after eight overs but wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin´s 128 off 109 balls nearly saw the hosts pull off an impressive recovery.

Ramdin was the last batsman to depart, bowled by paceman Tim Bresnan (3-45), as West Indies was skittled out for 278 in 47.4 overs.

England´s formidable 303-6 was built around Root´s 107 off 122 deliveries and Buttler´s frenetic 84-ball knock, which ended in the final over and left him agonizingly short of his maiden century in this format.

Root arrived in the middle with England in early trouble on 37-2 and went on to share a match-turning fifth-wicket stand of 175 with Buttler, who slammed seven fours and four sixes.

Moeen Ali also contributed 55 at the top of the order while the hosts´ skipper Dwayne Bravo took 3-60.

It was England´s first series win in any format in seven months, bringing some respite after a disappointing tour of Australia.

West Indies´ run chase stuttered to 80-5 inside 20 overs but Ramdin forged successive half-century stands with Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy to revive home hopes.

Bravo contributed 27 off 32 balls before he feathered to Buttler off Ravi Bopara´s medium pace.

Ramdin and Sammy put on 71 off 64 balls, only for Sammy (24) to be caught in the deep off Bresnan.Ramdin, with 12 fours and five sixes, blasted his way to a maiden ODI century, and the first by a West Indian wicketkeeper in one-dayers, with a succession of powerful strokes.

He arrived at three figures off 99 balls with a big six off Stephen Parry. But the tail could not offer enough support. Nikita Miller skied into the off side, Sunil Narine was run out and Bresnan finally ended the contest with a good yorker to bowl out Ramdin. (AP)