England claim consolation win
England ended a disappointing Test series with the consolation of a comprehensive victory over the West Indies on the fourth day of the third and final Test here.
Thrashed in the first two matches to surrender the Wisden Trophy after 10 years in English possession, the tourists gained a measure of consolation in completing a 232-run victory with a day to spare.
Set an improbable target of 485 after Joe Root declared his side’s second innings at 361/5 following his dismissal for 122, the home team were eventually dismissed for 252 deep into the final session on Tuesday when Ben Stokes had Keemo Paul caught and bowled.
Paul, hobbled by a leg injury which prevented him from bowling throughout most of the England second innings, only came out to bat as last man to allow Roston Chase to complete a deserving fifth Test century.
Chase was on 97 when Shannon Gabriel was ninth out, but the young all-rounder hung around long enough for the tall right-hander to reach three figures, cutting Joe Denly to the backward-point boundary to achieve the landmark. He finished unbeaten on 102 off 191 balls with 12 fours and one six embellishing his innings.
GROS ISLET (ST LUCIA):
ANDERSON BURST
James Anderson, who blew away the West Indies top order with three wickets before lunch, had no more success with the ball but his devastating early impact ensured that it was only a matter of when, not if England would have completed a massive victory on the fourth day.
Moeen Ali also claimed three wickets while Mark Wood, the
tearaway fast bowler who took five in the first innings, snared the important scalp of Shai Hope as the Windies slumped to 35/4 before lunch.
His six wickets and impact on the game earned him the Man-ofthe-match award.
“I watched Gabriel all season knocking us down and thought I
had to get some back for us,” he said of his raw pace. “I’m not thinking as far ahead as the Ashes. We’ve got a great squad and there’s plenty more cricket to go.”
Brief scores: England 277 & 361/5d (J Root 122) beat West Indies 154 & 252 (R Chase 102*; J Anderson 3/27, M Ali 3/99).