Kemar Roach To Miss Second ODI Against England

Windies have suffered a big injury blow ahead of the second ODI against England. The pace spearhead Kemar Roach will miss the crucial game due to the back injury. Roach was not a part of the first ODI on February 20 either.  Windies missed him dearly as despite scoring a mammoth total, they failed to defend it against the world number one ODI side.

Cricket Windies will now hope that the injury isn’t a serious one with Roach being a vital member of the team ahead of the World Cup in England this year. Roach was one of Windies’ top-performers in the recently-concluded Test series. The right-arm pacer won the man of the series award after picking up 18 wickets as Windies beat England 2-1.

Windies will be hoping that Roach recovers soon and get some much-needed game time ahead of the World Cup. Windies will play four more ODIs against England before playing the tri-series in Ireland. Cricket Windies, meanwhile, has not named a replacement yet for the pacer.

England won the first ODI by 6 wickets after pulling off a brilliant chase in Barbados.

Batting first, Windies piled up 360 for 8. Veteran batsman Chris Gayle marked his comeback in style by scoring his 24th ODI ton. He scored 135 with the help of 12 sixes. Shai Hope also played an important knock of 64. Windies ended their innings with a record 23 sixes.

Our highest ever winning chase in an ODI!! ?

Scorecard: https://t.co/6Ara09Ossv#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/B9TVOytM2i

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 20, 2019

However, centuries from Jason Roy and Joe Root helped England complete their highest chase in ODIs after they were asked to chase a mammoth 360.  Roy scored 123 off 85 balls and Root 102 off 97 as England crossed the line with eight balls to spare. Skipper Eoin Morgan also played a crucial knock of 65 as England once again showed their credentials as firm-favourites for the World Cup.

The second game of the five-match series will take place on Friday.