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Sports Mole previews the second 2025 One Day International match between England and the West Indies, scheduled to be played at the Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The three-match ODI series between England and the West Indies heads to the Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground in Cardiff for game two on Sunday morning.

There is a very slight chance of rain in Wales for this weekend’s match, though overcast conditions are expected, which could favour pace bowling early on.

Match preview

Harry Brook of England on May 25, 2025© Imago

Harry Brook enjoyed a triumphant debut as England’s full-time white-ball captain, as he led his team to a dominant 238-run victory over the West Indies in the opening one-day international at Edgbaston on Thursday.

The Three Lions posted a massive target of 400/8 after being put in to bat by the Windies, and that total marked the sixth time they have surpassed the 400-run mark in a one-day international.

Additionally, it was their highest ODI score in three years and their best against a Test-playing nation since clinching the World Cup in 2019, while it also brought an end to their seven-match ODI losing streak.

Perhaps the most notable stat, though, was that it was England’s highest total in any ODI without a century being scored by their batsmen, but Jacob Bethell (82), Ben Duckett (60), Brook (58) and Joe Root (57) all posted half-centuries.

With the ball, Saqib Mahmood stood out for the hosts, claiming three key top-order wickets to finish with figures of 3 for 32, and his efforts helped England dismiss the West Indies for just 162 in the 27th over, sealing their second-largest victory in ODI history by runs – surpassed only by their 242-run thrashing of Australia in Nottingham in 2018.

Jayden Seales of West Indies on May 25, 2025© Imago

Meanwhile, after a questionable performance in the series against Ireland, which included a shocking 124-run defeat in their first game, the West Indies’ performance in Edgbaston did nothing to improve the outlook around their chances of qualifying for the World Cup next year.

It was a punishing day with the ball for the West Indies, as England’s batters dominated from the start, and while Jayden Seales managed to take four wickets, he also proved costly, leaking 84 runs in his nine overs.

Chasing the mammoth target, the Windies’ top-order were unable to handle Mahmood and crumbled to 79/5 in the 15th over, with Brandon King, Justin Greaves and youngster Jewel Andrew dismissed for a combined 22 runs.

Only three West Indian batsmen surpassed 20 runs on Thursday, with Seales, batting last, ending as the visitors’ top scorer on 29, which made him just the seventh No.11 to top-score in an ODI innings.

Team News

West Indies Alzarri Joseph on May 25, 2025© Imago

Veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid marked his 150th ODI appearance with a two-wicket haul at Edgbaston and sealed the victory for England by bowling tailender Alzarri Joseph to wrap up the match.

While most of the headlines were hogged by England’s top-order, Will Jacks deserves a mention, as he continued his impressive form from the Indian Premier League and produced a solid 39 off just 24 deliveries batting at number seven.

Aside from Seales, Keacy Carty and skipper Shai Hope were the only other West Indian batsmen to post scores over 20 runs, and if the visitors are to have a chance of levelling the series, they will need much more from those two on Sunday.

Alzarri Joseph and Justin Greaves finished with respectable figures of 2/69 and 2/68 in 10 overs, respectively, while Matthew Forde will need to find major improvement with the new ball, having gone for 88 runs in eight overs and ending wicketless.

England squad: Harry Brook (c), Luke Wood, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith

West Indies squad: Shai Hope (c), Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd

Series so far

ODI 1 of 3: England won by 238 runs
England – 400/8 (50)
West Indies – 162 (26.2)

SM words green background© PA Photos

We say: England to win

Given the margin of defeat and just how poorly they played at Edgbaston, it is difficult to make much of a case for the West Indies to level the series this weekend. Therefore, we feel England will secure the series win by going 2-0 up in this one.

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Sports Mole previews the final 2025 One Day International match between India and England, scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.

India will be aiming to complete a clean sweep when their ODI series against England heads to the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat for the third and final match on Wednesday.

The Men in Blue have been excellent over the last month, claiming the T20I series 4-1, while they hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 50-over format after a stunning victory in Cuttack on Sunday.

Match preview

Rohit Sharma of India on February 1, 2025© Imago

India continued their sensational white-ball form over the weekend when they notched up yet another four-wicket victory over England, as they chased down a target of 305 with 33 balls to spare.

Leading the charge was their skipper Rohit Sharma, who smashed 119 runs in just 90 balls, including 12 fours and seven sixes at the top of the order, while vice-captain Shubman Gill played an excellent backup role with 60 runs of 52.

Sharma’s knock saw him break several records, including surpassing legend Sachin Tendulkar‘s 15,335 runs scored by an Indian opener across all formats, placing him second on the all-time list behind Virender Sehwag‘s 16,119.

Additionally, he became the second-highest six-hitter in ODI history, now on 334, surpassing Chris Gayle‘s 331, leaving him just 17 short of Shahid Afridi‘s 351 for Pakistan at the summit of the list.

However, while the hosts’ captain grabbed the headlines, India had several impressive contributions toward the victory, including Shreyas Iyer‘s 44 of 47 and Axar Patel‘s unbeaten 41, while Ravindra Jadeja once again starred with the ball, picking up 3/35 in his 10 overs.

England's Harry Brook and captain Jos Buttler on January 31, 2025© Imago

Meanwhile, after Jos Buttler won the toss and elected to bat first, Phil Salt and Ben Duckett put on a solid 81-run opening partnership, and a series comeback genuinely looked on for England in Cuttack.

Unfortunately for the Three Lions, despite posting a very defendable total, their bowling lineup struggled to make in-roads, highlighted by Adil Rashid, who has been their best bowler during this tour, going for 1/78 in his 10 overs.

England’s pace attack was largely ineffective, with Saqib Mahmood and Mark Wood both ending wicketless, while Gus Atkinson claimed the scalp of Hardik Pandya late in the day, but shipped over nine runs per over in doing so.

The result brought with it an unwanted record for Brendan McCullum‘s side, as they have now lost 27 matches after scoring 300+ plus runs – the most of any team in the 50-over format of the game.

However, there were a couple of positives that the visitors would have taken from that match, such as Joe Root‘s knock of 69 from 72 balls and Duckett’s impressive striking at the top of the order.

Team News

India celebrate taking a wicket against England in January 2025.© Imago

Jasprit Bumrah was expected to return to the squad for the third ODI, but given that the Men in Blue have already wrapped up the series, it is likely that they will not risk their star speedster ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Yashasvi Jaiswal made way for Virat Kohli‘s return on Sunday, but Gautam Gambhir may consider recalling the opener to the starting lineup in midweek, while Arshdeep Singh is also in contention to make his first appearance in this series.

Root registered his 40th ODI half-century, taking his tally of fifty-plus scores to 56, which includes 16 centuries, surpassing former captain Eoin Morgan to register the most fifty-plus scores for England.

After missing out the weekend’s match due to a hamstring injury, all-rounder Jacob Bethell has now been ruled out for an extended period, which has led to Tom Banton being recalled to the England squad following a three-year absence.

India squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja

England squad: Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Tom Banton, Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jamie Overton, Jos Buttler, Jamie Smith, Philip Salt, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Mark Wood

Series so far

ODI 1 of 3: India won by 4 wickets
England – 248 (47.4)
India – 251/6 (38.4)

ODI 2 of 3: India won by 4 wickets
England – 304 (49.5)
India – 308/6 (44.3)

SM words green background© PA Photos

We say: India to win

England have had no answer to India’s dominance during this tour, and while they will want to salvage some pride in this match, we feel the hosts will once again be too good for the Three Lions.

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