Dysart Enos has done absolutely nothing wrong in her career to date and can come through the next step in her development in the British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Fergal O’Brien will learn a lot more about his mare after this, because in truth she has not been tested in four runs under rules to date.

This will be different, however, because not only is she taking on the boys for the first time since her debut in a Ludlow bumper, but several of her rivals have already shown some smart form.

Harry Fry’s Beat The Bat won at Ascot, Nicky Henderson’s Kintail has scored at Warwick while the Paul Nicholls-trained Meatloaf was very impressive at Wincanton.

They all carry penalties, as does Dysart Enos, but her 7lb mares’ allowance could come in handy.

The Nicholls-trained Ginny’s Destiny really impressed when winning on Cheltenham’s Old course in November and there is no reason to believe he will not be as effective on the New course.

He looked a completely different proposition allowed to dictate compared to his first run of the season and he may just be one of those who takes his form to a completely different level over fences compared to hurdles.

Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning won nicely at Haydock having earlier gone close behind Stay Away Fay at Exeter so rates a massive danger.

However, all his form is on flat tracks so he needs to prove he is as effective on an undulating course.

Doddiethegreat seems to have been found a great opportunity to maintain his unbeaten record and raise money for a good cause in the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle.

Named after the late Scottish rugby union international Doddie Weir, any money he wins is donated to MND charities and so far he has won all four.

That does not tell the whole story, though, as his Ascot win last time out came after a 746-day break. Should he avoided the dreaded ‘bounce’ factor he looks the one to beat off a mark of 131.

Kerry Lee’s Storm Control has more than the odd idea about the game but he may just find the pace of the Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase to his liking.

If allowed to dictate he may just get into a rhythm and be difficult to peg back.

The Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase sees 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo take on a previous Savills Chase winner in Galvin and Fury Road, a Grade One winner as a novice.

As this race is a handicap, though, they may struggle to concede weight to Gesskille, who is being aimed at the Grand National.

He is trained by the excellent duo of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero who may double up in the Citipost Handicap Hurdle with White Rhino.

Bective Abbey can make a winning rules debut for Henderson in the At The Races App Form Study Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster.

A winning pointer, he was purchased for £150,000 and has missed plenty of engagements looking for better ground.

Hold That Taught can follow up a recent Ascot win in the Alfa Aggregate Products Golden Spurs Handicap Chase at Bangor.

Reprised can make the most of a mark of 70 in the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Nursery Handicap at Southwell.

SELECTIONS:

BANGOR: 12.20 Hector Master, 12.55 Fakir, 1.30 Hold That Taught, 2.05 Butler’s Brief, 2.35 Just Gino, 3.10 Mullins Cross, 3.42 Grand Albert.

CHELTENHAM: 12.05 DYSART ENOS (NAP), 12.40 Ginny’s Destiny, 1.15 Doddiethegreat, 1.50 La Malmason, 2.25 Storm Control, 3.00 Gesskille, 3.35 White Rhino.

DONCASTER: 11.25 Imperial Jade, 11.55 Bective Abbey, 12.30 Urban Soldier, 1.05 Prairie Wolf, 1.40 Bold Reaction, 2.15 Twinjets, 2.50 Magical Annie, 3.22 Tango Boy.

DUNDALK: 4.45 Scorchio, 5.15 Step It Out, 5.45 Dawn Rider, 6.15 Feature This, 6.45 Comfort Line, 7.15 Volatile Analyst, 7.45 Senado Square, 8.15 Celtic Revival.

SOUTHWELL: 5.00 Brownlee, 5.30 Reprised, 6.00 Cobh Harbour, 6.30 Sharp Distinction, 7.00 Smart Deal, 7.30 Willow Baby, 8.00 She’s The Danger, 8.30 Back Tomorrow.

DOUBLE: Dysart Enos and Ginny’s Destiny.

Connections of Highfield Princess are keen to “let the dust settle” on her creditable effort in Hong Kong last weekend before making a decision on her future.

A triple Group One winner in 2022 for John Quinn, the popular mare has fully justified the call to keep her in training as a six-year-old, with victories in the King George Stakes at Goodwood and the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp supplemented by several fine performances in defeat.

Highfield Princess was unable to land a telling blow on local superstar Lucky Sweynesse in Sunday’s Hong Kong Sprint, but was far from disgraced in being being beaten four lengths into sixth place and the trainer’s son Sean Quinn was proud of her performance.

“I thought she did her very best, it was tough from her wide draw and she just got a little bit lit up and nudged wide on the bend when the winner came up her inside,” he said.

“I’m not making any huge excuses, it might have cost her a place or two, but she performed very creditably on a very tough stage.

“She kept going and picked up £55,000 for finishing sixth, whereas if she’d finished seventh she’d have picked up nothing, so she paid for the trip and more.”

With Highfield Princess and her trainer having not yet returned to UK soil, a final call on whether she will be retired for broodmare duties, or race on in 2024, has yet to be made.

“She’s still in Hong Kong as we speak, so I think it’s just a case of getting her home, let the dust settle and keep her ticking over and see how she is,” Quinn jnr added.

“To win another Group One this year and probably one of the most valuable Group Twos in Europe when she won at Goodwood, not only has she picked up huge prize-money but she’s enhanced her CV.

“We can look back on this year very satisfied.”

Eva’s Oskar will miss out on another crack at the Grand National in 2024 after a setback ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Tim Vaughan’s nine-year-old was a winner at Cheltenham this time 12 months ago and snuck into the National line-up at Aintree in the spring where he was relishing the jumping test before unseating jockey Alan Johns with nine fences to go.

He was badly hampered when parting ways with his rider and that promising display had his handler eyeing up another tilt at the Merseyside showpiece with the grey.

However, after a respectable comeback run at Chepstow in October, Vaughan has now conceded defeat for the season after discovering a minor niggle that will require time to heal.

“He’s had a niggle and a bit of heat in a leg, so he’s off for this season and hopefully will come back this time next season I suppose,” said Vaughan.

“If we kept pressing on it could cause further damage, so we decided to pull up stumps for this season, get him right and he can come back in the summer to come again.

“We caught it early so I don’t think there will be any lasting damage and his health is the main thing for us. He has been a yard flagbearer for a few seasons now and it is obviously frustrating, but it is part of training racehorses.

“It’s a shame it is him, but we are where we are and the main thing is he’s bright and alert and happy and it is something we can resolve with a bit of time, so we will do what’s best for him really.”

He went on: “The plan was to run again at Cheltenham and then aim for the National again really.

“That was very much on the agenda and I thought he ran a blinder in it last year, he was just a bit unfortunate. He took to the fences really well so it’s frustrating.”

Raymond van Barneveld is dreaming of winning another World Championship crown 25 years after his historic first.

He became the first Dutchman to win the British Darts Organisation (BDO) title at the Lakeside in 1998 and went on to win three more before switching to the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), where he won another in 2007.

He was at the top of the game for several years before announcing a short-lived retirement in 2019.

The 56-year-old is back on the scene and preparing for another tilt at world glory over the next few weeks, with the World Championship getting under way at Alexandra Palace on Friday.

Reflecting on his title in 1998, Van Barneveld, who has released some commemorative darts to mark the anniversary, told the PA news agency: “It really went fast. Madness, 25 years ago, it goes quickly.

“After that my whole life changed, I went from being a postman to being a celebrity in Holland, being on every talk show, I flew in an F16, and tulip roses were named after me, it was insane.

“In all honesty, 1998 was more special because what it did to me as a person and what it did for darts in Holland. Because of that result I could quit my job as a postman and become a full-time player.”

Following years of success in the BDO, Van Barneveld followed the money to the PDC and struck up one of sport’s greatest rivalries when he regularly competed against Phil Taylor.

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And ‘Barney’ enjoyed some early success, winning the 2007 crown against his great competitor.

“I won so many things in the BDO, I didn’t want to be 85 years old and looking back on my career and be scared to play the best darts player ever on earth,” he said of his decision to switch to the PDC.

“I needed to live with myself and look back on my career and say I had the balls to play him, which I did. I did and you saw what happened, I beat him and it was a dream come true.”

If Van Barneveld were to win the title this year, it would be one of the biggest sporting shocks of recent times, with the likes of Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries playing at a different standard.

But the Dutchman believes he still has it in him.

“This is what it is all about. In all fairness, the rest of the year is nothing in comparison,” he said. “This is the world title. It means you are the man.

“I believe I can still win, absolutely. But you have to be realistic, there are better players out there at the moment. I am older, I am not a young pup who wants to win everything.

“The worlds is special for me, I believe it. All the other players know what they can do and if they draw Raymond van Barneveld then I am pretty sure they are not happy. They know if I show up I can go all the way.

“The World Championship is something else. You can win other titles, but this is so special. You are the world champion, everyone else looks up to you.”

:: Special Edition Barney25 darts to commemorate the 25-year anniversary of RVB’s first World Championship are available to buy now at www.target-darts.co.uk

Eddie Jones has been appointed as Japan head coach for the second time.

The former England boss will take up his post on January 1, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced.

Jones stepped down from his role as Australia head coach after a dismal World Cup showing in France.

He was first linked with the Japan job in September, but repeatedly denied those reports.

The 63-year-old coached Japan from 2012 to 2015, famously masterminding a stunning victory over 2015 World Cup opponents South Africa in Brighton.

Billy Vunipola’s red card he received during Saracens’ Investec Champions Cup clash against the Bulls in South Africa has been overturned.

It means that the England number eight is free to play immediately, making him available for Saturday’s European appointment with Connacht.

Vunipola was sent off early in the second half by Italian referee Andrea Piardi for a dangerous strike to the head area of Bulls forward Cameron Hanekom.

The 31-year-old, who appeared by video link before an independent disciplinary panel, accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but he did not accept it warranted a red card.

Tournament organiser European Professional Club Rugby said: “The committee determined that Vunipola had committed an act of foul play.

“However, it decided that there was insufficient force in the contact to Hanekom’s head to warrant a red card, and the red card was therefore overturned.

“Vunipola is free to play immediately, and EPCR has the right to appeal the decision.”

Saracens were beaten 27-16 by the Bulls in the first of their four Champions Cup pool games.

Tyronn Lue believes the Los Angeles Clippers are "trending in the right direction".

The Clippers overcame the Sacramento Kings 119-99 on Tuesday to make it five straight wins.

Lue's team have now won 10 of their last 13 games, since a six-game losing streak following James Harden's arrival in a big trade from the Philadelphia 76ers.

And Lue feels his team are starting to show just how much quality they have.

"The biggest thing for me is [the players are] just staying with it," Lue said.

"I think early on it was tough for us just trying to figure out how we wanted to play, trying to figure out rotations and all the different things and how James, Paul George, Kawhi [Leonard] and Russell [Westbrook] all play together.

"We still got a long way to go, but we're trending in the right direction. We're doing a lot of good things and we still just got to stay with it and continue to put in the work.

"It's just chemistry, playing together, getting clarity, knowing what to expect coming into games. I think that's what the biggest thing is.

"I know we had a rough start, but we’re just staying the course. I give our players credit just for every single day coming in, every shoot around, every practice, working to get better and trying to understand and find out how they can make each other better."

The Clippers did lose George to groin soreness, though they have Leonard in excellent form, as he took his points total over the last three games to 106.

"It's just chemistry, playing together, getting clarity, knowing what to expect coming into games," said Leonard.

"I think that's what the biggest thing is."

Manchester United are out of Europe after they lost to Bayern Munich in their final Champions League group game on Tuesday.

It is the sixth time they have failed to qualify for the knockout stages and just the second they have finished bottom of the group, the other being in 2005-06.

Here, the PA news agency compares United’s struggles this season to one 18 years ago.

Results

United had to qualify for the group stage in 2005-06 after finishing third in the Premier League the previous season, but did so with ease. They were drawn in, what looked to be on paper, a favourable group alongside Villarreal, Lille and Benfica.

An opening draw against the Spanish side was followed by victory over Benfica, but then things went wrong. They took one point from a double-header against Lille, drew again with Villarreal before crashing out by losing to the Portuguese side.

The current crop of United flops were up against it from the beginning as they lost their opening two games to Bayern and Galatasaray. A home victory over Copenhagen was undone by defeat in the reverse fixture and when they squandered a lead in Turkey the writing was on the wall.

Harry Kane’s Bayern then delivered a knockout blow in the final group game to ensure United did not even drop into the Europa League.

Squad

The 2005-06 United squad was one in transition but they still had some heavyweight names, especially in attack where they had a front three of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ryan Giggs was still in his prime while in Rio Ferdinand they had one of the best defenders in Europe.

It was a squad that should not have been going out in the group stages.

The recruitment that has seen the 2023-24 United group put together has been heavily criticised, with several underperformers and average players. Andre Onana’s wayward form in goal has arguably been crucial in their demise while Marcus Rashford’s displays have not matched last year’s.

Antony appears not to have justified his hefty price tag while Scott McTominay, Diogo Dalot and Viktor Lindelof may not be up to the standard required.

League form

United were hanging on the coat-tails of Jose Mourhinho’s Chelsea and Arsenal, with their utter domination of English football a thing of the past.

But they were still consistent and ended up being the second best team in the league that year, behind the Blues. United lost just five games all season, four of them away, and finished with 83 points.

This season’s side have already lost seven of their 16 games so far, four of them at Old Trafford, which is no longer the fortress it once was. The fact they have not drawn any games has helped them into a position where they could mount a top-four challenge in the second half of the season but consistency would have to improve immeasuarably.

Manager

Alex Ferguson remained in total control at Old Trafford, even with the disappointing European campaign. He was in the process of rebuilding a squad that would win the Premier League and Champions League again in the coming years. He was still respected and feared by his players and opponents and was very much the boss.

Erik ten Hag has some similar traits to Ferguson, especially surrounding discipline, but he is being undermined by poorly performing players. A promising start to his reign last season has capitulated this time around and he now appears to be in a fight to save his job.

Ex-footballer Ben Turner is excited to see Marsh Wren return to Warwick for what he describes as her ‘cup final’ in Thursday’s Larkshill Engineering Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase – should the meeting survive a morning inspection.

The Stuart Edmunds-trained seven-year-old carries the colours of the Far Bihoue Partnership, which is fronted by the former Cardiff and Coventry City defender.

Having seen Marsh Wren make a successful debut over fences at Warwick last month, Turner is keeping his fingers crossed she can boost her future value as a broodmare with victory in this Listed event.

“This is a massive opportunity for her to get some black type as we want to breed from her eventually and I don’t think we will get a better mare to breed from,” he said.

“From what both Stu and Ciaran Gethings have said she is looking in savage form at home. Arclight is rated higher than us, and is trained by a master trainer in Nicky Henderson, and we have to give her weight as she is only a four-year-old, but her best form is over shorter and on better ground.

“The ground can’t be testing enough for Marsh Wren. So many horses struggle to find that little bit extra when the ground is bottomless but she takes to it like a duck to water.

“This is Marsh Wren’s time of year, and this is her trip. This is her cup final, and we planned to go here even before she won her last start.”

Turner is now retired from professional football following a fine career which saw him play and score in the 2012 League Cup final for Cardiff City against Liverpool. He also featured in the ‘Bluebirds’ team that lifted the 2012-13 Championship title.

Having been associated with the glamour of the Premier League, the 35-year-old is proud of the fact that he been able to offer people outside of the stereotypical racehorse owner the opportunity to be part of something special with Marsh Wren.

He added: “My family would say the League Cup Final would be their best memory, and it would be my best one-off memory, but getting promoted to the Premier League was my best achievement as that takes some doing over 46 games.

“Marsh Wren was purchased on a shoestring budget and we have 30 people involved in her including several members of my family.

“What is great about the syndicate is that they are all working class people who have normal jobs. We haven’t got the resources to spend big money out of the point-to-point field, but here they are with a horse in a Listed race.

“When I was playing football I was fortunate enough to have half and quarter shares in horses, along with owning one outright, but being in a syndicate like this is no less of a buzz.

“We have people in their 20s right through to their 70s involved so we have the full age scale, which is great to see.”

The meeting is subject to a 7.30am inspection due to the threat of waterlogging.

Luka Doncic said "everything hurts" after he battled through the pain to propel the Dallas Mavericks to victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Doncic finished with 33 points and 17 assists as the Mavericks defeated LeBron James' Lakers – fresh from their in-season tournament victory last weekend – 127-125.

It marked the second win in as many nights for Dallas, though talisman Doncic had been listed as questionable following Monday's win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

"I don't know how I played," Doncic said.

"I slept very little today. Everything hurts. I'm getting old, man, but we got two back-to-back wins, which is amazing, especially against a team like the Lakers.

"So I'm really proud of these guys."

Speaking to TNT Sports, Doncic added: "You give your best, you want to stay on the court.

"This is an amazing team win, man. Back-to-back, we've got so many guys out, but everybody stepped up, everybody played hard."

Doncic also shared a moment with James, who also had 33 points, at the end of the game.

"It's amazing, the way he talks with me," Doncic said. "One of the best, it's a great relationship. I'm glad, coming from Slovenia, that I can play games like this against LeBron. It's special."

The Mavs needed Doncic to step up, with Kyrie Irving, Maxi Kleber, Josh Green and Derrick Jones Jr all out injured.

"Anytime you play a guy like Luka that's so talented, so good passing the ball, but obviously scores it as well, it makes it tough," Lakers guard Austin Reaves said.

"That's the challenge when you have a guy like that on the other team that you're trying to slow down."

The St. Louis Blues fired coach Craig Berube on Tuesday night, parting ways with the coach who led the team to its only Stanley Cup title.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong announced the move hours after a 6-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

The defeat was the season-worst fourth straight for the Blues, who are off to a 13-14-1 start to the season.

Drew Bannister, coach of the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League, was named interim coach.

He will be behind the bench on Thursday night, when the Blues host the Ottawa Senators.

The 57-year-old Berube was in his sixth season with the Blues and had a 206-131-44 record. His win total ranks third in team history.

He guided the Blues to the Stanley Cup championship in 2019 after replacing Mike Yeo as coach on Nov. 20, 2018, as the interim coach and leading a remarkable turnaround.

Draymond Green was ejected again and the Phoenix Suns got 32 points from Devin Booker in a 119-116 win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. 

Green was tossed in the third quarter after receiving a Flagrant 2 foul for hitting Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic in the face.

The incident came less than a month after Green was suspended five games by the NBA for putting Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert into a headlock during an altercation in November.

Bradley Beal scored 16 points in his return from a back injury and the Suns won without Kevin Durant, who missed his second straight game with a left ankle sprain.

 

Exum gives Mavericks big lift

Luka Dončić had 33 points and 17 assists and Dante Exum made five of his career-best seven 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Dallas Mavericks won their fourth straight game, 127-125 over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

With Kyrie Irving sidelined again by a bruised right foot, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 32 points, including five of Dallas’ 21 3-pointers, and Grant Williams chipped in 19 points.

Anthony Davis tallied 37 points and 11 rebounds, while LeBron James had 33 points, nine assists and eight boards as the Lakers’ season-best four-game winning streak was snapped.

This was the first game for the Lakers after their NBA Cup-clinching victory over Indiana in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Exum finished with a season-high 26 points, going 5 of 7 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter to help the Mavs stay ahead.

 

Clippers’ Leonard continues scoring binge

Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points in three quarters and the Los Angeles Clippers cruised to their fifth straight win, 119-98 over the Sacramento Kings.

Leonard scored 14 points in the third quarter, including the Clippers’ final seven, to extend their lead to 99-70.

He has 106 points on 36-of-56 shooting – 11 of 19 from 3-point range – with 15 rebounds and 13 assists in his last three games.

James Harden had 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds to help Los Angeles win for the 10th time in 13 games.

Keegan Murray led Sacramento with 17 points.

Stuart Skinner turned aside 22 shots and Connor McDavid had a pair of assists to lead the Edmonton Oilers to their NHL season-high eighth consecutive win, 4-1 over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Sam Gagner, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman scored to help the Oilers notch their longest winning streak since their franchise record-tying nine-game run to close out last season.

Defenseman Evan Bouchard set up two goals to extend his point streak to 12 games. He has five goals and 13 assists during the streak, the second longest by a defenseman in Oilers history, trailing Paul Coffey’s 28-game run in 1985-86.

Rookie Connor Bedard scored his team-leading 12th goal as the Blackhawks lost their seventh in a row on the road.

 

Boeser has hat trick in Canucks’ win

Brock Boeser scored three straight goals for his second hat trick of the season to power the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning.

Boeser scored twice in the second period and completed his fifth career hat trick in the third. His 21 goals tied him for the league lead with Toronto’s Auston Matthews.

Thatcher Demko made 28 saves and Andrei Kuzmenko had the other goal for Vancouver.

Brayden Point scored for the Lightning, who had won three of four.

 

Matthews’ big game propels Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews scored two goals and set up two others and Martin Jones won his first start for Toronto in the Maple Leafs’ 7-3 victory over the New York Rangers.

Conor Timmins, Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf also scored for the Maple Leafs, who have points in seven straight games (5-0-2).

Matthews’ two goals gave him 21 on the season, tied with Vancouver’s Brock Boeser for the NHL lead.

Blake Wheeler had a pair of goals and Mika Zibanejad scored a power-play goal as New York lost for the third time in four games.

Jones, signed as a free agent last summer, stopped 28 shots in his second appearance of the season.

Andre Russell starred on his comeback and the West Indies’ conveyor belt of six-hitters sent England tumbling to a four-wicket defeat in Barbados in the first of five T20s.

Russell took a format-best three for 19 in his first international since the 2021 T20 World Cup to help induce an England collapse from 117 for two in the 11th over to 171 all out, with three balls unused.

England disintegrated at the back end, losing their final five wickets for six runs in 15 balls, before the West Indies reeled in their target and completed their highest successful run chase at venue, with 11 balls to spare. The run chase was helped by clearing the rope 14 times.

The Windies looked to be in strife after slipping to 123 for six, but Russell with a 14-ball 29, and captain Rovman Powell with a 15-ball 31, put on an unbroken 49 in 21 deliveries to get them home.

Scores: England 171 all out (19.3 overs); West Indies 172-6 (18.1 overs)

Adil Rashid became the first English man to take 100 T20 wickets on his 100th appearance – he was given his cap by Andrew Flintoff – while fellow leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed collected three for 39.

But despite a switch of format following a miserable World Cup and ODI series defeat against their hosts, England suffered another setback and must regroup quickly for the second T20 in Grenada.

They were on for a 200-plus total following a 77-run opening stand in the powerplay, led by Phil Salt’s freewheeling 40 off 20 balls but never recovered the momentum after he was dismissed by Russell.

Salt edged his second ball past slip off Akeal Hosein for four after England were sent in on the pitch used in the final ODI, but he settled with two more conventional strokes to the rope.

Buttler was in his Lancashire team-mate’s slipstream but brought up England’s 50 with a six off Russell after finally connecting with a ramp at the third attempt.

Joseph leaked 25 in an introductory over spanning nine balls, where he was sent the distance by Salt and saw a wide slip through the legs of wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran en route to the boundary.

It was inevitably Russell who made the breakthrough immediately after the powerplay as Salt tried to muscle over deep midwicket only to be caught by a juggling Shimron Hetmyer.

But Joseph’s nightmare start continued after back-to-back sixes off Jacks, compounding the second by overstepping and conceding 37 off his first seven legitimate balls.

Joseph’s bold decision to take pace off was rewarded as Jacks sent another booming swing straight up in the air and departed for 17 while Buttler, who had never really hit his stride at a venue where he made a golden duck on Saturday, holed out for 39 off 31 deliveries.

At 117 for three, England were in the driving seat, but wickets tumbled from then on as Brook tickled behind off Jason Holder while Duckett got into a tangle attempting a scoop off a much wider delivery from Romario Shepherd than anticipated, instead reverse ramping to short third.

Liam Livingstone briefly sparkled as he thrashed Holder for successive sixes in the 17th over but then chopped on to his stumps for 27, too early on an off-cutter from Russell, who then snared Rehan Ahmed.

Joseph accounted for Rashid and Tymal Mills as England failed to bat out their overs and they were on the back foot in reply after leaking 30 in the first two overs.

Brandon King started the rout with 16 off Sam Curran but added just six more before being dismissed after an outstretched catch from Duckett, who dropped a similar chance to reprieve Kyle Mayers on 17.

Mayers had already put Will Jacks and Tymal Mills on to the Greenidge and Haynes Stand roof and cleared the ropes twice in Ahmed’s opening gambit before perishing for 35, falling metres short of a fifth six from Rashid’s first delivery.

Having amassed 78 in the first seven overs, the Windies found post-powerplay scoring as difficult as England, adding just 39 more in the next seven, which included Ahmed taking a return catch off Pooran and Hetmyer picking out Duckett in the deep to give Rashid his landmark wicket.

Shai Hope belted his third six but perished immediately afterwards for 36 when he targeted Ahmed again while the teenager had two in two when Romario Shepherd – England’s nemesis in the 2-1 ODI loss – edged to slip.

The Windies needed 43 off the last 26 balls but Powell turned the tide with two monster hits off Livingstone while Russell got a top-edge all the way in the next over off Mills.

England’s last roll of the dice was Rashid but he was smeared high over the leg-side boundary by Russell, who fittingly sealed a 1-0 lead for the Windies by hitting Curran for four.

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