Jermaine Blackwood struck a magnificent half-century to guide West Indies to a memorable victory in the first Test of the three-match series against England at🅠 the Ageas Bowl in Southampton🌳. Blackwood showed immense courage and inspirational determination to take Caribbeans over the line in the first contest post coronavirus pandemic.
While chasing the target of 200 runs, the visitors had an abysmal start as they ❀lost three wickets in quick successions in the first session on D๊ay 5. England paceman Jofra Archer demolished the top-order of West Indies when he claimed two wickets in successive overs. The right-arm speedster first dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite and then he sent Shamarh Brooks back to the pavilion.
As if the trouble wasn’t enough already, Mark Wood shattered the defence of Shai Hope and Windies were struggling badly at 35/3 till lunch break. However, then Rostan Chase and Blackwood steadied the ship and added a crucial stand of 73 runs for the fourth-wicket before Archer struck again and dismissed Chase (37) off a nasty bouncer.
Jof makes it happen! What a delivery! 🚀
Scorecard/Videos:
— England Cricket (@englandcricket)
Blackwood stayed in the middle and kept 🏅on scoring runs. He stitched another critical partnership with wicket-keeper batsman Shane Dowrich. The duo added 68 runs for the fifth wicket. English skipper Ben Stokes broke the run-stand when he dismi🃏ssed Dowrich for 20 runs.
Blackwood, on the other hand, kept his end alive and took the tourists really close to the finishing line. He was looking set to score a brilliant 𒈔century, but Stokes had some other plans. The southpaw dismissed Blackwood for 95. However, the Caribbean batter did his job pretty well. When he left the ground, his side needed just 11 runs for the victory.
Jermaine Blackwood falls for 95!
A fantastic innings, but he can't quite see his side home 👏
— ICC (@ICC)
West Indies skipper Jason Holder along with opener John Campbell, who earlier got retired-hurt due to an injury, did the remaining job as the pair chased𝓰 down the target successfully and defeated the hosts by four wickets.
Here is how cricket fraternity reacted to West Indies’ win over England:
Wow what a win. Top display of test cricket.
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli)
Brilliant from the 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Andrew Flintoff (@flintoff11)
West Indian captains with maximum Test victories
36 – Clive Lloyd (74 Tests)
27 – Viv Richards (50)
11 – Richie Richardson (24)
11 – Jason Holder (33)
10 – Brian Lara (47)
This is Holder's 4th win over England in six Tests as captain!— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman)
Well done to played with patience great skill and maturity we’ll lead by 💞their captain 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88)
Good all-round performances by players from both teams.
Jermaine Blackwood ♎played a crucial knock in a tense situation to see through. An important win wh🍷ich has set up the series perfectly.— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt)
WHAT A WIN!!!
Yes boys 🔥
— Sir Vivian Richards (@ivivianrichards)
West Indies win the Black Lives Matter Test
Top stuff gentlemen 👊🏾
— Carlos Brathwaite (@CRBrathwaite26)
Great characters shown in this win by some key players.. congཧratulations to coach , capt and team
— Courtney A Walsh (@CuddyWalsh)
Congratulations complete team performance!
Blackwood just brilliant under pressure. Just the kind of start ꦏcricket needed after this long break.— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Test Cricket matters, winning overseas matters, doing well i🏅n Test cricket matters. Great to see Test Match cricket back and great to see West Indies win. A phenomenal effort from the whole WI team. Congratulations
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag)
Many congratulations on a brilliant win. Great display of skills and maturity and extremely w🎀ell led by Jason Holder. Top knock from ꧋Blackwood in the fourth innings and West Indies showing how it is done
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
Wow! West Indies wins in England. Happy to see𒅌 five days of great action. Only di😼sappointing thing was Blackwood missing hundred by just 5 runs.
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh)
Validation for 🔯the new Windies approach , discipline n doggedness over flair . 👍Shout out to both the sides and everyone involved for getting us live cricket again
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7)
Congrꩲatulations and Great Test match, and great to have cricket back. 🙌🏾
— Ashwell Prince (@ashyp_5)
