(ESPNCricinfo) – It worked out all right in the end for Grenada’s cricket faithful, as their first taste of international action for four years was reduced from a two-match festival of cricket to one single afternoon of six-smoking carnage.

After Monday’s rain had given way to Wednesday’s clear skies, it was as though the England and West Indies batsmen had been unleashed from the dressing room via slingshots.

Both teams tore into the bowling with a world-record 46 sixes in 98 overs of action – 24 for England, 22 for West Indies; 14 for Chris Gayle, 12 for Jos Buttler, whose innings of 150 from 77 balls was one of the most staggering onslaughts ever witnessed on the world stage.

And the upshot is a series which England now have within their grasp. They lead 2-1 with just the decider in St Lucia to come, and while everything between now and the end of May pales, compared to the challenge that awaits at this summer’s World Cup, there are bragging rights aplenty available in this final contest.

England, for starters, would really rather like a piece of silverware to take home from the Caribbean, given how quickly their hopes in the Test series were detonated by Jason Holder and his cohorts. But there’s also that thorny question of “momentum” – a nebulous concept at the best of times, and one that most teams are happy to play up or down, as it suits them.

Nevertheless, with India breathing down England’s necks ahead of their own ODI series against Australia, a West Indies win could open the door for a new No.1 team to be anointed going into the World Cup.

Perhaps that might reduce some of the home-team pressure on Eoin Morgan’s men, but to judge by their approach throughout their renaissance run of form since 2015, they are dead-set on hitting the front and staying there in every contest they play.

All things being equal, England start as favourites – as well they might, given the run of form they’ve been on in the 50-over format in recent years – but this contest will surely be decided, as with each of the other three so far, by the team who hold their nerve for longest in what looks likely to be another daunting run-chase.

England did remarkably well to chase 361 in the opening match in Barbados, eventually easing to their target with eight balls and five wickets to spare. But two days later, they tumbled off the tightrope in dramatic fashion, losing their last six wickets for 35 runs in pursuit of 290.

West Indies fell away even more quickly in Grenada, losing their last four wickets in five deliveries from Adil Rashid, but by that stage they had 389 on the board, more than any team in history to have been bowled out inside their 50 overs – which just goes to show, none of these games is over until it is over.

And even the beleaguered bowlers on both teams can produce match-turning moments in the blink of an eye. But don’t blink too often … when 46 sixes are raining into the stands, it’s not wise to take your eyes off the action for a second.