England vs West Indies 2020, 1st Test, Day 5 - Twitter Reactions

Published - 13 Jul 2020, 12:48 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 09:41 AM

West Indies won by 4 wickets [Photo-Twitter]

Ohh Test cricket! You never cease to amaze us, do you? In the end, it seems that everything- 117-day wait, the protocols, the bio-bubble, everything was well worth it, as West Indies and England produced a Test match for the ages, to give the pandemic-struck world an escape for the ages.

In the end, John Campbell, with a dab towards deep-square leg completed one of the most significant wins for the West Indies under the leadership of Jason Holder to take a 1-0 lead in the Wisden Trophy. And, it was fitting that the skipper was one the other end when the win was secured.

Earlier, England, starting the day at 8-284, added another 29 runs to nudge their lead to the 200-run mark before Shannon Gabriel accounted for both Jofra Archer [23] and Mark Wood [2].

Needing 200 to win, West Indies needed a steady start from their openers to pluck a significant hole into the target but they got off to worst possible start with John Campbell getting retired hurt courtesy a hit on toe by a Jofra Archer delivery.

Also Read- Michael Vaughan Calls For The Removal Of Joe Denly Following His Lack Of Runs in Southampton

Gritty Jermaine Blackwood stood like a rock in front of a rampaging Jofra Archer

Archer looked in great rhythm from the very outset and the duo of Kraigg Brathwaite [4] and Shamarh Brooks [0] had to bore the brunt of it. The plan was simple from Archer: push the batsmen back with back-of-a-length deliveries before bowling a nip-backer to either pin him right in front [as was the case with Shamarh Brooks] or dislodge the stumps, which happened in Kraigg Brathwaite’s case.

Mark Wood then accounted for Shai Hope, shattering his stumps with raw pace, to leave West Indies reeling at 3-27.

England vs West Indies 2020, 1st Test, Day 05-Twitter Reactions
Jermaine Blackwood [Photo-Twitter]
At 3-27 and one batsman retired hurt, West Indies needed a partnership and then they got that- first with Roston Chase [37] and Jermaine Blackwood [6 and then with Blackwood and Dowrich.

Blackwood rode his luck- he was dropped by Jos Buttler and Rory Burns]- but despite that he played a gritty inning, one that was also glittered with sumptuous strokes, especially when he got past the half-century mark.

England created as many as three chances- two catches and one run-out [missed by Zak Crawley] in the first hour of the post-lunch session but could not hold on to either of them. Finally, it was Jofra Archer, who produced a jaffa to dismiss Roston Chase, gave England a much-needed reprieve.

Archer bowled with sustained hostility and venom and very nearly got Dowrich but the right-hander reviewed immediately, where it became pretty evident that it had come o his elbow. Blackwood player some cracking strokes after getting to his half-century and along with Dowrich ensured that the Windies went into Tea, needing just 57 runs to win and with seven wickets still remaining intact.

Ben Stokes threatened to once again sway the momentum in England’s favor with the dismissal of Shane Dowrich but Jermaine Blackwood [95], who missed out on a well-deserved hundred, and Jason Holder, and later John Campbell ensured that West Indies eventually moved past the finishing line.

Also Read: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Reckons That It Will Challenging To Shine The Ball As Sweat Won’t Be Available Everywhere

Here’s how Twitter reacted to England vs West Indies, 5th day-

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