England vs West Indies 2020, 2nd Test, Day 5: Report - Clinical England Wrap Up Victory To Level Series

England clinched an impressive on the final day of the second Test at Old Trafford that enabled them to stay alive in the three-match series against the West Indies. Like Stuart Broad remarked, they would leave no stone unturned to level the series on the day five after losing the entire third day due to showers. The Englishmen exemplified their intent from the get-go as Ben Stokes spearheaded it as he did in the first innings. He showed the purpose and determination thoroughly with the ball and field.

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With that, the rubber comes back in balance, setting up for the finale once again at the Old Trafford. The only wicket England lost in the morning session was the wicket of captain Joe Root for 22, who sacrificed himself for quick runs. Stokes, who made 176 in the first innings, finished day four on 16 from 18 deliveries. He went on to clobber four fours and three sixes in his 57-ball 78 as the home side added 92 in 11 overs before Root declared, leaving the West Indies to chase 312 in 85 overs.

Stuart Broad struck in his first over, forcing to knick John Campbell to Buttler behind the stumps. England headed for lunch, plucking three wickets of which Broad picked two while the remaining one went to Chris Woakes. Kraigg Braithwaite’s horror run in the 4th innings of Tests continued, pinned on the crease by Woakes while Hope’s run in red-ball cricket could come to a close, losing his stumps to Broad.

After lunch, Broad struck for the third time, dismissing Roston Chase with a nip-backer for which he offered no shot. Ben Stokes’ golden arm and England’s short-ball ploy once again did the trick as they broke a stubborn century-stand between Shamarh Brooks and Jermaine Blackwood. It was one of the many instances where a West Indian batsman got to fifty but couldn’t convert to three figures. The tourists were still 175 runs away by then and England found a real opening.

Jason Holder and Shamarh Brooks try their best to keep England at bay:

Woakes claimed his second in the next over as keeper-batsman Shane Dowrich departed for a pair. Yet, as long as Jason Holder and Brooks were present, Joe Root’s men were not breathing and had their heart racing. Sam Curran ended Brooks’ 136-ball stay, as he was stuck on the crease, pinned on his knee roll. It was safe to say that Holder’s task increased manifold from there. He was still being defiant in his gameplay until a ball from Dom Bess turned from the rough to bamboozle him and destroy the stumps.

With 129 needing to win, West Indies’ final hope was Alzarri Joseph, who counterattacked in the first innings as the nightwatchman. But England came with plenty of intent on the last day. The final two wickets, including that of Joseph and Gabriel, went in the space of 15 runs. It only fitted that the last wicket went through an outstanding grab at short leg by Ollie Pope off Bess’ bowling to emerge victorious by 113 runs. Man of the match Ben Stokes made 254 runs and took three wickets in the entire game.

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