Twitter Reactions: 'Mr Incredible' Ben Stokes sets stage for the grand finale in Manchester

The grand finale '3rd Test' starts from 24th July in Manchester.

By Tanvir Sahni

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Ben Stokes
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Player of the Match Ben Stokes. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images for ECB)

At the end of Day 4, England stood at 37/2. After scoring 469 runs in their first innings and dismissing the West Indies for 287, they had a lead of 182 runs. The hosts, on Day 5, had a clear plan. They knew that they needed to give their bowlers a sufficient amount of time to dismiss the visitors’ line-up. On Day 5, they came out all guns blazing in order to get some really quick runs.

Ben Stokes stood out once again as he scored a quickfire 78* in just 57 balls to guide the home team to a score of 129/3 at the end of 19 overs. Root was run-out on 22 while Pope chipped in with a 7-ball 12. Roach who had got a couple of wickets on Day 4 was the only bowler from the visitor’s team to get any success in the second inning.

Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes create havoc with the new ball

The performance of the West Indian top-order was obviously going to be very important considering their lower order hadn’t been doing great. With a minimum of 85 overs to survive, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes gave the hosts an early edge. Broad went ahead and took three wickets while Woakes bowled tight lines and got a wicket to his name.

The Caribbean team was reeling at 37/4 at the end of 15 overs. The openers Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell were dismissed for 12 and 4 respectively. Broad and Woakes took a piece each. Shai Hope and Roston Chase got dismissed cheaply thanks to some amazing bowling by the experienced English bowler. At 37/4 it seemed like the Windies would not even be able to survive till tea.

Partnership breaker Ben Stokes proves his worth once again

Shamarh Brooks and Jermaine Blackwood combined to make a 100-run fifth-wicket partnership which many believed could have helped the visitors successfully draw the match. More than the runs, it was the fact that they had successfully played out 27.3 overs. With the England bowlers having no answers to this duo it looked like the match was heading towards a draw.

The hosts however had a player called Ben Stokes in their line-up. Already famous for his knack of breaking big partnerships, he did not disappoint this time either. He dismissed Blackwood for 55 runs which was a turning point of the game. The all-rounder did not bowl post that as he suffered an injury while trying to stop a boundary. The man had however already done his job.

West Indies crumble to hand England a comfortable victory

From 137/4, the Caribbean team was all out for a mere 198. They lost the final 6 wickets scoring just 62 runs. Moreover, they lost all these wickets in less than 30 overs. While Jason Holder was the only player to chip in with a 35 the rest of the lower order failed miserably. Dom Bess, Woakes and Stokes finished with two wickets each while Curran had one to his name. After getting three wickets at the start, Broad had no more success.

The home team successfully won the match by 113 runs resulting in the series becoming 1-1. The final Test in Manchester will determine the outcome of this series. With the hosts winning this game at the same venue they would be high on confidence to go and win the series. West Indies will be hoping for improved performance in the final game which begins on Friday, 24th July. After the series-levelling victory, Root termed Stokes ‘Mr Incredible’.

Here’s how Twitter reacted on England’s big win

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