How could anyone have predicted the Lions would smash a 487-5 total, the highest List A score ever and the fifth best worldwide?
Durham’s Ben McKinney blasted 145 off 65 balls, reaching his century in just 43, while James Rew added an unbeaten 107 from 56, eclipsing the 425-1 posted a decade ago.
A decade earlier, England Test opener Ben Duckett scored an unbeaten 220 from 131 deliveries, with Daniel Bell‑Drummond contributing 171 as Dawid Malan fell for 23.
Ten years on, McKinney struck 15 fours and 10 sixes; Rew, who debuted in Tests at the Oval, hit 15 fours and two sixes while keeping wicket alongside Jamie Smith.
In my view, McKinney earned a Test call this summer, yet the top‑order slot went to his Durham teammate Emilio Gay instead of replacing Zak Crawley.
Both batsmen dismantled a attack that featured West Indies pacer Oshane Thomas, who has 46 white‑ball caps, most recently in February 2024.
Australia‑bound Jack records a five‑wicket haul for the Lions.
The Lions triumphed by 276 runs, bowling West Indies A out for 211, thanks to a five‑wicket haul from Hampshire quick Eddie Jack, now in England’s T20I squad for the Australia series.
Glamorgan spinner Mason Crane claimed three wickets.
Captain Dan Lawrence, slated for the winter Test tour of South Africa, contributed 76 off 56, while youngster Ben Mayes added an unbeaten 58 from 46.
England’s Lions have now won all five tour matches, following a 3‑0 T20 sweep and taking a 2‑0 lead in the five‑match one‑day series.
The remaining 50‑over games are set for St Kitts on Wednesday, Saturday and the following Monday.
Jack, Rew’s younger brother Thomas (who made 22 on Monday) and James Coles are the uncapped names in England’s senior T20 squad that will face Australia from Nov 21, starting in Melbourne.
Will Jack, Thomas Rew and Coles carry this momentum into the Australian tour after the third unofficial ODI?