No.8 Test ranked Windies stunned the cricket world by providing the dominating all-round performances and clinching a large victory against the no.3 Test ranked English cricket team in the first Test of three-match Test series at Kensington Oval (Bridgetown, Barbados).
After choosing to bat first, the hosts’ Windies were bowled out for 289 runs in the first innings. While the hosts had three half-century knocks in that innings (Shai Hope 57, Roston Chase 54 and Shimron Hetmyer 81), English pacer James Anderson (5/46) bagged five wickets and the pace-bowling all-rounder Ben Stokes (4/59) claimed four wickets.
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In reply, England were bundled out for just 77 runs after the Windies pacer Kemar Roach (5/17) claimed a five-wicket haul. Though Windies were leading by 212 runs, they decided to bat again rather than forcing the visiting the side for the follow-on.
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In the second innings, once Windies were struggling on 120/5. Later in that innings, the wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich and skipper Jason Holder had the unbeaten 295 runs partnership for the seventh wicket that settled a mammoth target for the visiting side. While Dowrich scored 116* off 224 balls (11 fours and only six), Holder played the unbeaten knock of 202 runs off 229 balls (23 fours and 8 sixes).
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Chasing down the 628 runs target, England were bundled out for 246 runs, thanks to the 8/60 bowling figure by Roston Chase. Winning the Test by 381 runs, Windies has taken the 1-0 lead of the three-match Test series with two Tests are yet to be played. Windies skipper Jason Holder won the Player of the Match award.
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Some important stats of the Test match
- England was bundled out for just 77 runs during their first innings. It was their 17th lowest completed Test innings total in overall and also fourth lowest completed Test innings total against West Indies.
- During their first innings, none of the English batsmen reached the 20-run mark. It was the 11th time when none of the English batsmen reached the 20-run mark, previously it happened in June 1998 against South Africa at Lord’s. Also, it was the only second time when none of English batsmen reached the 20-run mark in a Test innings against West Indies (the first such incident happened in March 1994 during the Port of Spain Test).
- Windies wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich and skipper Jason Holder had the unbeaten 295 runs partnership for the seventh wicket during their second innings. Third highest seventh-wicket partnership in Test cricket history.
- Coming to bat at no.8, the Windies skipper Jason Holder scored unbeaten 202 runs. Third highest knock in a Test innings after coming to bat at no.8 or lower. The top two record holders are both from Pakistan – 257* by Wasim Akram (vs Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura in October 1996) and 209 by Imtiaz Ahmed (vs New Zealand at Lahore in October 1955).
- Windies scored 415/8 in their second innings before the declaration. It is their highest second innings total in a Test innings against England in West Indies. Their previous record was 408/5 at Kingston in April 1930.
- Windies set the fourth innings target of 628 runs for the visiting side England. The highest fourth innings target set by Windies against any team in their Test cricket history. Their previous record was to setting the 617-run target against England at Georgetown in February 1930.
- Windies won by 381 runs. It was their third largest Test victory (by runs). The top two in this list are winning by 425 runs against England at Manchester (July 1976) and 408 runs against Australia at Adelaide (January 1980).
Here are some Twitter reactions of the match:
The West Indies doing well and beating England so convincingly ( by 381 runs) is great for Test cricket and will surely inspire youngsters in the Carribean. Congrarulations to @Jaseholder98 and his boys for this formidable win #WIvEng
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 27, 2019
What a test match in the carribean, well played @Jaseholder98. You are a star 🤩#WIvsENG
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) January 26, 2019
What an incredible test match. Very good start to the series. Special thanks to the fans who supported and all the boys for the efforts they put in. Was also nice to be greeted by the PM… https://t.co/IOCwF6wmxX
— Jason Holder (@Jaseholder98) January 27, 2019
Worlds gone mad @robkey612 @Harmy611 England Bowled out for 77 and then Jason Holder , Jason Holder ? got a double hundred 🤷🏼♂️wtf @Cricket_TS @SkyCricket
— Andrew Flintoff (@flintoff11) January 25, 2019
Jason Holder is a fantastic cricketer who also deserves so much credit for the way he has lead the West Indies over the last few years .. Been difficult times for his team so he deserves all the credit for the Week he and his team have had .. England will get better in Antigua ..
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 26, 2019
Ready to watch englandcricket bat all day! Hoping they lose no more than three wickets on day four to keep any hope alive. What’s your predictions? #dayfour #wivseng @ Kensington Oval https://t.co/qP9qc4RCU4
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) January 26, 2019
Cricket needs @windiescricket to be back at their best again. They've been missed for too long. A brilliant showing by @Jaseholder98 and Royston Chase. Well done chaps #WICricket #WIvsENG
— Suren Perera (@darthteddy) January 27, 2019
A bowler who could bat a little – 200*
A batsman who could bowl a little – 8 wickets
Lol ECB!!!#WIvsENG pic.twitter.com/gx1mVRL8Yz— BOOM BOOM BHOLENATH (@Appatakker) January 27, 2019
Having grown up in an era of the mighty Windies dominance of world cricket and admired their talent and style, hope this win will spruce the much awaited turn around. World cricket needs the best of Calypso flair. Great job @Jaseholder98 & Rolston Chase. Keep it going!!
— Balaji B (@banjobaj) January 27, 2019
Roston Chase was bored and decided to have a bowl. 8 wkts.
#WIvsENG pic.twitter.com/n0bvci7rap— BOOM BOOM BHOLENATH (@Appatakker) January 27, 2019
Meanwhile @Jaseholder98 to @ECB_cricket .
Hey what's up ?@windiescricket #engvsWI #ENGvWI #WIvENG #WIvsENG pic.twitter.com/1wlL3jwkyn— Vipul mishra (@Vandanamishra44) January 26, 2019
I think when WestIndies wins a game the entire cricketing world is happy , except the opponents for obvious reasons, that's the kind of love we have for "We are the West Indies "😍#WIvsENG
— Sumeet Bhatia 🇮🇳 (@sumeetbhatia_11) January 26, 2019
How many surprises in #WIvsENG first test.
-WI big win
-Holder 200
-Chase 8 wkts
What else I am missing?— Hirantha Weerarathna (@hirantha129) January 27, 2019
Joe Root's so blinkered by his obsession with attacking cricket that he's become incapable of playing a 'proper', patient test innings. Fed up of seeing him admonishing himself when walking off after giving it away yet again & it spread through the rest of the team too #WIvsENG
— PJE (@Dial49RednGold) January 26, 2019
Kind of sums up England’s effort in this test match #WIvsENG pic.twitter.com/TcYQUJvkoN
— Jon Lewis (@jlew28) January 26, 2019
A consistently competitive West Indies cricket team will do world cricket a lot of good. They just add a different flavour to cricket. #WIvsENG
— Blacks in Whites (@BlaqsInCricket) January 26, 2019
