Match overview
England beat West Indies by 238 runs in the first ODI at Edgbaston on 29 May 2025. Batting first after West Indies elected to field, England posted 400/8 from their 50 overs. West Indies never came close in reply, losing three wickets in the powerplay while scoring 58 and collapsing to 162 all out. JG Bethell took the Player of the Match award. It was England's fourth ODI win over West Indies in 2025, with the head-to-head now standing at 66 wins to England versus 41 for West Indies across 120 meetings.
The story of the match was written early in England's innings. Ninety runs in the powerplay at the cost of one wicket gave the home side a platform that West Indies' attack never managed to disrupt. The middle overs yielded 193 more runs for three wickets, and despite four late wickets in the death, England's 117 from the final phase pushed them to a total that was always going to be well beyond their opponents.
West Indies' chase fell apart from the opening overs. Losing three wickets for 58 in the powerplay made any realistic pursuit impossible. The middle overs saw seven more wickets tumble for 104, and the innings ended there. West Indies did not face a single death-over delivery; they were all out before they reached them.
Venue and conditions
Edgbaston has staged 198 ODI matches in our records. The average first-innings score across those games is 195, and the average second-innings score is 171. England's 400 sits more than 200 runs above that first-innings benchmark, which speaks both to the pitch on the day and to how cleanly they batted. The venue's average powerplay score is 41 runs; England scored 90 in theirs, more than double.
Teams elect to field first at Edgbaston in around 58% of ODIs, making West Indies' toss decision entirely conventional. The ground's chase success rate is 48%, meaning it is marginally harder to win batting second than first. In this case, the margin was academic long before the chase concluded. The average death-overs score at the ground is 31; England managed 117 in that phase, a significant deviation from the historical pattern.
The conditions in Birmingham in late May can be overcast, which sometimes assists swing bowling early in an innings. West Indies' bowlers did claim a wicket in the powerplay but could not convert that into sustained pressure, and England's batters exploited the flat middle overs pitch to the full.
How to watch
England's home ODIs are broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket in the United Kingdom, with live coverage and highlights available through Sky Go and NOW TV for those on streaming packages rather than a full subscription. Sky Sports also carries digital coverage, including live ball-by-ball scoring through the Sky Sports app.
For those without access to Sky, the England and Wales Cricket Board often provides highlights packages through its own channels. BBC Radio's Test Match Special covers selected England home matches on radio, including major ODI series, so it is worth checking the TMS schedule for audio commentary options during this summer's fixtures.
Recent form
England came into this fixture having won only one of their previous five ODIs. The sole win was against Zimbabwe in 2025; before that, they suffered defeats against South Africa, Australia, and back-to-back losses against India. Those results provided some context for West Indies' decision to field first: on paper, England's recent form gave little indication of what was about to unfold.
West Indies' recent record was similarly mixed. They beat Ireland and Pakistan in 2025 but also lost to each side in the same period, with one no-result against Ireland. Neither team arrived in peak ODI form, but England's batting depth on a favourable surface proved the decisive factor. The series continues, and both sides will be aware that West Indies' batting order needs substantial improvement if they are to compete in the matches ahead.