ENG v WI, 2nd Test, Day 5 Review: Hosts shell shocked as Windies script a historic win

Not one person gave Windies a chance to beat England in the second Test, but they’ve got the job done quite comprehensively at Headingley. Breathtaking knocks from Brathwaite and Hope gifted the visitors an unbelievable 5-wicket win.

England failed to bolster their command over the game after their miraculous escape from a predicament on Day 4. Kieran Powell and Kraigg Brathwaite remained solid with their approach and that helped them build the pressure on the bowlers. Powell dealt only in boundaries and dot balls whilst Brathwaite was a bit more orthodox.

After adding a decent 46 run stand, Powell fell prey to the brilliance of Stuart Broad. James Anderson set the wicket up for his partner in crime by getting right under his skin the previous over. This induced him to attempt an audacious drive with his body positioned in the worst possible way. Stokes took a simple catch at 4th slip and things just got better for Broad and England.

Braithwaite thumped a drive straight down the ground and unfortunately for the non-striker, that was a wee bit straight than what he would’ve liked. Broad got a finger tip on his follow through and the ball dismantled the stumps at the bowler’s end. Kyle Hope fell short of his crease and Windies had a mountain to climb.

Hope-Brathwaite torment England, again!

Whilst one brother departed in a bizarre way, the other entered the battlefield with the same courage he showed in the first innings. Hope and Brathwaite turned a night mare for the English bowlers as they dealt with the situation brilliantly. They didn’t rush towards the target and yet, they kept ticking the board according to the required run rate.

The anguish cries of the English bowlers and a soothing sound of the ball traveling off the meat of the bat was what happened in the next few hours. Brathwaite soon got to his fifty and his partner too upped the ante. Joe Root was spot on with his declaration on Day 4 but these both gentlemen from the Caribbean lands were just too good on the day.

The duo added yet another hundred partnership in the game and they kept continuing. Hope got to a fifty with a boundary off Broad through backward square. The Headingley crowd were on the edge of their seats as the duo were taking Windies home to a historic win. Brathwaite was heading to a hundred and things looked well set for a major upset.

England fight back, but not good enough!

Just before the tea break, Brathwaite gave his wicket away to Moeen Ali and England was right back in the game. He was dismissed for a well compiled 95 off 180 balls. They bowled well in the 3rd session initially, but Roston Chase(30 off 58 balls) and Hope were up for the challenge. With Chase doing the bulk of the scoring, his partner could sit back and relax a bit.

The duo was setting a wonderful platform for an astonishing win but after adding a 49 run partnership, Wokes removed Chase. Jermaine Blackwood (41 off 45 balls) who is known for his audacious approach and aggressive intent, came out to bat the exact way he usually does and he made a huge impact. Hope got to his hundred soon after and even the second new ball traveled all around the park.

Cook dropped a sitter off Shai Hope and Windies stormed towards victory post then. With the batters rejoicing and the bowlers agonized, the target condensed quickly than expected and against all the odds, Windies managed to square the series 1-1. It was remarkable cricket on Day 5 and it will remain fresh in the memory of these cricketers for a long time.

Brief Scores

1st Innings

England: 258 all out in 70.5 overs(Ben Stokes 100, Joe Root 59; Kemar Roach 4/71, Shannon Gabriel 4/51)

West Indies: 427 all out in 127 overs(Kraigg Brathwaite 134, Shai Hope 147; James Anderson 5/76)

2nd Innings

England: 490/8 declared in 141 overs(Moeen Ali 84, Joe Root 72, Chris Woakes 61*; Roston Chase 3/86)

West Indies: 322/5 in 91.2 overs(Kraigg Brathwaite 95, Shai Hope 118*, Jermaine Blackwood 41)