London, Mar 28: Captain Chris Gayle’s blistering 80 led West Indies to a thumping eight-wicket victory over England, who had earlier only mustered up a meagre 117 in 41.3 overs in a rain-affected third one-dayer in Barbados.

It was the second worst day of England’s tour of West Indies. Only being rolled over for 51 in the first Test in Jamaica was more humiliating than succumbing to West Indies in the third one-day international.

Gayle smashed eight sixes and five fours as he scored 80 in 43 balls to put his team 2-1 up in the five-match series.

Rain initially reduced the game to 44 overs per side before the West Indies target was later adjusted to 117 under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

“It was a good wicket to bat on, extremely good. We all did well in bowling, batting, fielding and played a good game of cricket. Our team spirit is very high and I want to commend the guys on that,” Gayle told reporters.

After being put in to bat England threw their wickets away with a succession of loose pull and hook shots as they slumped to 68 for eight.

After the top order failed to make an impression former captain Kevin Pietersen, who complained of homesickness in an interview on Thursday, swiped Dwayne Bravo’s first ball straight to mid-wicket and was out for three.

Andrew Flintoff, back in action after a month out through injury, went for a duck when he hooked a simple catch to Fidel Edwards off Bravo.

All the West Indian pace bowlers had to do was bang the ball in short and watch England’s batsmen spoon a succession of catches. Five of England’s top eight batsmen were out hooking, while Matt Prior steered a short ball on the offside to point. (ANI)