Edwards’ decision to reinstate Jones at the top of the order initially raised a few eyebrows, but it has proved to be a masterstroke.
She whacked two fours in the opening over off Zaida James and did not look back. The roles were reversed from their previous partnership, with Jones hitting the accelerator throughout while Beaumont eased through the gears with a little more caution.
There were signs of nerves when Jones reached the 90s at Derby, with dropped chances on 91 and 92, but here she oozed confidence from the minute she walked to the middle.
The century came from just 76 balls – England’s joint-third fastest in women’s ODIs – with Beaumont’s fifty coming from 64, before she kicked on to reach three figures from 106 balls with a six sent sailing over long-on.
It was the first time an opening pair has hit back-to-back hundreds in the history of the format – men’s and women’s – and the hosts relentlessly punished West Indies’ inexperienced bowling attack which struggled to build any consistency or dot ball pressure throughout.
The bowling skewed both sides of the wicket in the first 10 overs which allowed their flying start, and Jones’ chance should have been taken by Grimmond at cover.
Both openers were eventually dismissed by spinner Karishma Ramharack but they had set a platform which ensured England had their record total of 378 in their sights, until Grimmond provided the tourists’ highlight in the field with a spectacular one-handed catch to dismiss Lamb as England were accelerating into the final five overs.
Despite the confidence that will come from posting scores of 346 and 366 in consecutive games, there will certainly be tougher tests to come for England’s new opening pair and for number three Lamb, who made a 41-ball fifty.
The first of those comes with India’s arrival later this month, which will provide a much clearer indication of the team’s batting approach under Edwards and when they are put under more pressure.
