All-round England defeat West Indies by 113 runs to level the series
Thanks to all-round performance, England registered an
emphatic 113 runs win on the fifth and final day of the 2nd Test
match played at Old Trafford, Manchester on Monday. With this win, England has
earned 40 points in the ICC Test Championship points table.
Starting on the overnight score of 37 for 2, Ben Stokes
looked in serious form right from word go and put West Indies bowlers under
pressure with big stroke play. England captain Joe Root gave the strike to
Stokes. John Campbell dropped a sitter to get rid of dangerous Stokes. Stokes
took advantage of the chance and completed his fifty off 36 balls. West Indies
captain Holder wasted two reviews.
Root was run out trying to steal a single. Root and Stokes
added 73 runs for the 3rd wicket. Stokes took the attack to West
Indies bowling line who looked tired. Ollie Pope played a cameo before Joe Root
declared the innings at 129 for 3 with a lead of 311 runs.
Stuart Broad got the breakthrough for England in the first
over itself. John Campbell was given not out and on review, the decision was
overturned as there was an edge. Chris Woakes dismissed Kraigg Braithwaite
while Broad produced a beauty to get rid of Shai Hope. West Indies went into
the lunch break in big trouble at 25 for 3.
It was an ideal start for England in the 2nd
session as Stuart Broad dismissed Roston Chase to leave West Indies in tatters
at 37 for 4. Blackwood got a reprieve as he was dropped by Joe Root.
After the drop chance, Brooks and Blackwood were calm with
their batting. England decided not to review the decision as the ball hit the gloves
off Brooks. Blackwood remained calm to reach his 2nd half-century
off 81 balls. Brooks looked solid as ever to complete his half-century off 95
balls. Before the stroke of tea break, Stokes did the job again by getting rid
of Blackwood with a short ball as Jos Buttler took a good catch. Blackwood and
Brooks added 100 runs for the 4th wicket. At tea, West Indies scored
137 for 5.
The third session saw a brilliant start as Chris Woakes
dismissed Shane Dowrich. Brooks and Holder faced top quality bowling from the
hosts. Sam Curran produced a good delivery to get rid of Brooks for a well-made
62.
Kemar Roach was promoted ahead of Alazzari Joseph. Holder
played some lovely strokes before Dom Bess got rid of West Indies captain
Holder. West Indies survived two reviews. On the first occasion, the umpire
gave it not out and England decided to review, it was given not out. Joseph was
given out for a caught, but the decision was overturned.
Stokes struck to pick the wicket of Joseph. Kemar Roach with
resolute defense while Gabriel did not play big shots. Bess dismissed Kemar
Roach soon with a stunning catch by Pope at short leg to bowl out West Indies
for 198.
For his all-round performance, Ben Stokes was named the man
of the match. The series is leveled at 1-1. It promises to be an exciting
third Test match starting from 24th July at Old Trafford,
Manchester.
England 469 for 9 d in 162 overs (Stokes 176, Sibley 120, Buttler 40,
Chase 5/172, Roach 2/58) and 129 for 3 in 19 overs ( Stokes 78*, Crawley 11, Roach 2/37) beat
West Indies 287 in 99 overs (Brooks 68, Chase 51, Broad 3/66, Woakes 3/42) and
198 in 70.1 overs ( Brooks 62, Blackwood 55, Broad 3/42, Stokes 2/30) by 113
runs.
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| England beat WI by 113 runs to level the series at 1-1 |
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