Kraigg Brathwaite, the West Indian skipper’s resilience ensured that England could not get ahead in the series despite some incredible performances from Ben Stokes and Joe Root.
On the fifth and final day of the 2nd Test, England hammered the West Indian bowling line-up to quickly set up a target and give themselves enough time to bowl out the Caribbeans.
Carrying on from 40-1, England went hard to reach 185-6 before declaring their 2nd innings. Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes and Johnny Bairstow each batted with a strike-rate of more than 100 to rapidly post a target on the board.
Dan Lawrence notched up 41 off 39, including 2 sixes and a four, while Bairstow scored 29 off 25, consisting of one four and two sixes. For West Indies, Jayden Seales and Permaul dismissed two batters each.
England set up a target of 282 for West Indies to chase in the remaining 65 overs in the day. West Indies had a rocky start as three of their top-four were dismissed early in the chase. Jack Leach and Saqib Mahmood bowled in suitable areas to Campbell, Bonner and Brookes in quick succession.
West Indies found themselves on the verge of a collapse with 39-3 in just 12.1 overs. However, the duo, which troubled England earlier in the Test, combined again to pose problems for the visitors.
Brathwaite and Blackwood put up a fifty run stand for the wicket while consuming almost 25 overs. Blackwood was sent back to the pavilion by Jack Leach on 27 off 84.
Succeeding Blackwood, Jason Holder arrived on the crease, but his stay in the middle was short-lived as Leach dismissed him for a 24 balls duck.
England might have been hoping for a result in their favour with West Indies, five wickets down and 20 overs still to be bowled in the day. But Jayden Seales’s determined unbeaten inning of 30* off 63 guaranteed that the third Test will be a series decider.
Kraigg Brathwaite was named player of the match for his excellent resilience in the Test.
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