England crash to a series defeat after three days as the Windies overcome tragedy to win
England received another jolting reality check as they surrendered the second Test, and with it the series, to a rampant West Indies side in Antigua yesterday.
Trounced by 381 runs in Barbados last week, they were swept aside in three days at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, meekly subsiding to a 10-wicket defeat.
Bowled out for 132 in a fraction over 42 overs, the tourists set a paltry target of 14 and were finished off in fitting style as John Campbell clubbed James Anderson for six into the party stand.
Their batsman had no such patience when faced with the brilliance of Kemar Roach and Jason Holder, who took four wickets apiece, but special credit belongs to 22-yearold Alzarri Joseph, who overcame the personal tragedy of his mother’s death to play a crucial part in proceedings.
Despite being visibly and understandably emotional during the warm-ups, he took his place in the batting order and claimed the key wicket of Joe Root as well as opener Joe Denly.
England, joining their opponents in wearing black armbands as a sign of respect, began the day by taking four wickets for 34, leaving the Windies 306 all out and 119 ahead. Holder and Roach both succumbed to Anderson’s probing outside off stump, and Joseph was warmly clapped on to the field before being ousted for seven by Ben Stokes. All three would have more to
say soon with ball in hand.
Bravo was last man out, continuing a five-and-a-half hour vigil which began on the second afternoon and became the slowest West Indian 50 in history.
England’s opening pair somehow negotiated a fierce opening blast with the new ball before Burns let his guard down when Holder entered the fray, leaning back and inexplicably guiding his first delivery straight to third slip. Bairstow also fell to the home captain aiming a mighty drive at the next full delivery. With a yawning gap on offer, he promptly lost his off stump.
The spotlight then fell to the courageous Joseph, who got one to nip back into Root before scurrying through to the wicketkeeper. DRS showed a hint of glove before a heavier touch off the thigh pad.
There was no doubt about his second wicket, Denly dramatically misjudging a leave and allowing his stumps to be scattered.
Joseph should also have picked off Stokes for a duck, Campbell dropping a gentle one, but the England allrounder did not cash in.
Returning after tea with England still 44 adrift he pieced together 11 runs before driving lavishly and into his own stumps.
Moeen waited all of seven balls before repeating the folly, missing entirely as Roach rattled the timbers again.
The writing was on the wall, with England’s willingness to fight for a fourth day the only remaining question.
That was seemingly answered when Ben Foakes and Jos Buttler were both trapped lbw in the space of four balls.
Stuart Broad and Anderson lasted nine more between them, leaving the slenderest of chases behind.