Dropped for the curtain-raiser two days earlier where the English cantered to a six-wicket win in a high-scoring fixture, the Jamaican left-arm fast bowler returned figures of five for 46 as the top-ranked visitors lost their last six wickets for 35 runs to be dismissed for 263 in response to what looked a comparatively modest West Indies total of 289 for six.
Shimron Hetmyer's unbeaten 104 gave a labouring West Indies innings late impetus when they batted first but it looked to be in vain with England seeming to have the match well in control at 228 for four in the 40th over with Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler entrenched.
Earlier Cottrell had an immediate impact with the ball when he removed openers Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, man of the match in the first ODI, in his first two overs. He also accounted for England captain Eoin Morgan for a well-played 70, although it seemed at that stage the tourists' batting depth was more than enough to take them to the target.
For all of Cottrell's heroics, it was Jason Holder who turned the match on its head with ten overs left. He had Stokes caught behind for a top score of 79 and then removed Buttler in his next over.