The Cricketer looks at the main talking points from the third and final ODI between England and West Indies at the Kia Oval
With the benefit of hindsight, provided by England's crushing chase of the total, the match may have been over far earlier had Gudakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph not combined for a 91-run partnership.
They were brought together at 154 for 7, which was largely built around the returning Sherfane Rutherford's 70 off 71 balls, when Brydon Carse forced the left-hander to toe-end a pull shot to Harry Brook at mid-on.
Under immense pressure, they forged the second-highest eighth-wicket stand for West Indies in the format, which kept their team in the match.
Motie made 63, the highest ODI score of his career, which included a first-ball six on a hat-trick ball against Adil Rashid. Joseph made 41 off 29 balls, including a six off Will Jacks to bring up his team's 200.
While their efforts were eventually in vain, it gave West Indies a fighting chance in the third ODI. Their bowlers failed to make use of the opportunity as England cantered home with over 10 overs left.
Alzarri Joseph added a rapid 41 off 29 balls to help West Indies get to 251 (GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
After West Indies rallied into what looked like a profitable position and posted 251 for 9 from their rain-reduced 40 overs, England got off to a rapid start in the chase.
They were fuelled, almost entirely, in the first six overs by their opener Jamie Smith on his home ground.
His exhilarating start to the chase came to a head in the seventh over, bowled by Gudakesh Motie. He flicked the first ball to mid-wicket, where it was dropped inexcusably by Justin Greaves. Riding the wave of his second chance, he hit the next four balls for 20 runs, with his two sixes and two fours on alternate balls.
He also passed fifty for the first time in the international format with a stunning burst.
The left-arm spinner, who made his highest ODI score with the bat, had the last laugh when he bowled the right-hander with the final ball of the over.
The entertaining six balls had ended with a drop, 20 runs and the first wicket of the England innings, but more importantly, had given the hosts the necessary platform to cruise home to victory.
England arrived at the ground today on bikes, owing to heavy traffic (Omar Khan)
The start of the third ODI between England and West Indies was delayed by half an hour as the visitors were delayed by heavy traffic.
While England made use of their exclusive access to the practice facilities on the field ahead of the match, the same fate could easily have befallen them as they were stuck in the same traffic. They were caught en route, so the team left the bus and cycled to the ground and the coaching staff elected to walk.
"We were on the bus for a while, so we all decided to get off and get some Lime bikes in, so we were in a little bit earlier than the West Indies boys, but we're here now, ready to go," said England captain, Harry Brook, at the toss.
Speaking after the match, Brook revealed it was Jos Buttler's idea to get the bikes and the team were spotted whizzing past on the way to the ground as they parked up outside the ground.
This same solution was not possible for West Indies as they were stuck north of the River Thames.
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