Coach Law heaps praise on run-scoring duo after side bounce back

Stuart Law was a proud West Indies coach after watching his side bounce back from their Edgbaston nightmare to beat England in the second Test at Headingley.

Shai Hope made centuries in each innings, with Kraigg Brathwaite falling just five runs short of the same feat, as the tourists won by five wickets to level the series at 1-1.

Law said: “What a five days. After getting the kicking we did at Edgbaston, to get the boys back up to achieve what they’ve done these last five days, it’s a great effort – not just by the players themselves but all the support staff.

“I’m very proud of them, and of the two young guys who scored the runs.”

Hope took most of the plaudits after becoming the first man ever to make two tons in a first-class game at Headingley.

Law, pictured, added: “I said if he gets one [hundred], he’ll get plenty – well he got one and he’s got another.

“Hopefully now the pretty 20s are gone and the pretty 120s are here to stay.”

On Brathwaite, he added: “He’s not the most fashionable looking cricketer but he gets the job done and he’s one of my first picks. He’s got plenty of courage, plenty of character and plenty of determination, and he played really well.”

Hope added: “We needed someone to stand up and bat and I was sure if I was there at the end, the century would come. We fought really hard, we knew we needed this win to keep alive the series. I’m elated, we’ve been working really hard as a team and we’re pleased to get over the line.” England captain Joe Root admitted his side’s below-par first innings left them chasing the game from an early stage.

“I’m sure it was a great Test for everyone watching,” he said. “It’s not great to be on the losing side of it but I’m sure people watching have had a great time.

“Hope played exceptionally well – on the fifth day, against high-quality bowling, it was a great knock.

“Credit to the whole side, the way they came back from last week was a great effort.

“They put us under pressure in the first innings and then went past us when they got their chance.”