The curtain came down on another great season of cricket at the Kia Oval as England clinched the one-day international series against the West Indies with a six-run win on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.
On a day dominated by talk off the field about England's Ashes squad, the players on it took care of the final target of the summer by moving to an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, with just one match to go.
However, the West Indies posed a formidable challenge with an imposing score of 356-5, built on a sensational 176 by Evan Lewis, who eventually retired hurt after bottom-edging an attempted shot into his ankle and having to be stretchered off.
Lewis's effort was all the more remarkable as he had been forced to rein himself in early on after the tourists slumped to 33-3. However, he found strong support down the order from skipper Jason Holder, who made 77 from 62 balls.
Faced with a difficult target and knowing rain was forecast for the evening, past England sides might have wilted. Instead, Surrey star Jason Roy led the assault with a sparkling 84 in a major return to form. However, with Alzarri Joseph bowling superbly and claiming five wickets, the West Indies were well ahead on the DLS when Jos Buttler was joined by Moeen Ali.
However, even with Holder using his best bowlers in the knowledge that the rain was coming, Buttler and Moeen launched a withering assault that put England in front by the time the weather hit on 258-5 from 35.1 overs. Moeen made an unbeaten 48 from just 25 balls, following a magnificent 102 from 57 balls in the previous match in Bristol.
Fans booking corporate hospitality for matches at the Kia Oval next summer have lots to look forward to. There will be a one-day international against Australia on June 13th and the fifth and final Test against world number one side India in September.
Sadly, one thing fans will not be able to do at the venue is watch the great Kumar Sangakkara in action. Surrey's Sri Lankan veteran played his last first-class match this week against Lancashire, ending his final season with a batting average of 106.50.
Image: Getty, from Keith Prowse subscription