England Lions produced a sensational batting masterclass on their ongoing tour of the Caribbean, plundering their highest List A total of all time with a staggering 487-5 from their allotted 50 overs against West Indies A in the second unofficial ODI in St Kitts.
The colossal total thoroughly eclipsed the previous record of 425-1, which the side had racked up against Sri Lanka A at Canterbury a decade prior. In that memorable match ten years ago, current England Test and ODI opener Ben Duckett had plundered 220 not out from 131 balls, alongside Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond, who contributed 171 from 139 after Dawid Malan fell early for 23.
This time around, it was the explosive partnership of Durham opener Ben McKinney and wicketkeeper-batter James Rew that stole the headlines in Basseterre. McKinney delivered a breathtaking exhibition of clean hitting, hammering 145 from just 65 deliveries, an innings decorated with 15 boundaries and 10 towering maximums. He was matched in intensity by Rew, who finished unbeaten on 107 from 56 balls, striking 15 fours and two sixes. Rew, who made his senior England Test debut against New Zealand at The Kia Oval in June, has taken on the wicketkeeping duties on this tour with Jamie Smith currently unavailable due to paternity leave.
McKinney’s incredible knock adds to what has been a brilliant trajectory for the young batter. He had previously been heavily linked with a Test call-up earlier in the summer when speculation mounted over England’s opening combination and the potential dropping of Zak Crawley. Ultimately, the vacant spot alongside Duckett at the top of the order went to McKinney’s Durham team-mate, Emilio Gay, but innings like this underline the immense depth and pressure for places currently within the English red-ball and white-ball pathways.
The onslaught by McKinney and Rew completely dismantled a West Indies A bowling attack that featured experienced international firepower, including full West Indies representative Oshane Thomas. The seasoned fast bowler, who has previously featured in 46 white-ball matches for his country with his most recent international appearance coming as recently as February 2024, had no answers on a punishing day in the field.
The touring side’s dominance was not restricted to the opening partnership, however. Lions captain Dan Lawrence, who has been named in England’s Test squad for the upcoming winter tour of South Africa, chipped in with a fluent 76 from 56 deliveries. Later in the innings, Hampshire youngster Ben Mayes added further misery to the hosts by notching an unbeaten 58 from 46 balls, ensuring the total scaled historic heights.
Faced with a mountainous target of 488, West Indies A were never truly in the contest and were eventually skittled for 211 in reply. The comprehensive 276-run victory was engineered primarily by Hampshire quick Eddie Jack, who delivered a devastating spell to claim a five-wicket haul. Jack’s rapid ascension has been rewarded with a recent inclusion in England’s T20I squad to take on Australia later this month. He was ably supported by Glamorgan leg-spinner Mason Crane, who twirled his way to three vital wickets to wrap up the tail and seal the massive win.
The commanding triumph maintains the Lions’ flawless record on their Caribbean tour so far. Having already swept the host nation 3-0 in the preceding T20 series, the side has now taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match one-day international leg.
The remainder of the 50-over fixtures will continue to be played at the same venue in St Kitts, with matches scheduled for Wednesday, Saturday, and next Monday. For several players in the Lions setup, these performances serve as the ultimate audition ahead of senior international commitments. Alongside Eddie Jack, James Rew’s younger brother Thomas—who contributed 22 runs to Monday’s remarkable run-fest—and James Coles are among the uncapped players selected in the senior England T20 international squad. That squad is set to lock horns with Australia in a five-match series starting on November 21, with the opening fixture taking place in Melbourne.