Birmingham, May 27: Matt Prior’s one-day international best of 87 set up England’s 58-run win in the third and final match of their series against the West Indies at Edgbaston here on Tuesday. The victory saw England win the series 2-0 after a six-wicket win in Bristol on Sunday following Thursday’s washout at Headingley.
Wicket-keeper Prior’s innings was the centrepiece of England’s imposing total of 328 for seven in their permitted 50 overs. That was their highest in this form of cricket against the West Indies, surpassing the 306 for five they made in a 55 overs per side match at the Oval in 1995. West Indies, chasing 329 to win, finished well short on 270 all out.
Prior has not been selected for next month’s World Twenty20 in England, with James Foster the hosts’ specialist wicket-keeper. But the Sussex gloveman, who has been struggling with a right ring finger injury, was not too disappointed. "I’m actually quite looking forward to having time off to get the finger right," Prior said. However, he added: "It’s a World Cup in your home country, of course you would be gutted to miss out. But there are a huge amount of positives to have come out of the last month."
Scores: England 328/7 in 50 overs (Prior 87, Shah 75, Strauss 52, Taylor 3/59) beat West Indies 270 in 49.4 overs (Chanderpaul 68, Ramdin 45, Anderson 3/58)