West Indies take 1-0 lead in the three-match series:
Since the sports world return after a long break of Coronavirus, the team of West Indies won the 1st international cricket match by beating the team of England on the 5th Day of an exciting first Test match in Southampton at Ageas Bowl in front of no spectators.
Jermaine Blackwood’s tremendous 95 runs took the limelight of the match and West Indies won in the final session by four wickets. And the winning run is hit by John Campbell.
In the three-Test series, West Indies scored 200 runs with the loss of 6 wickets in their second innings to take an early lead. After tea, the West Indies team had made 143 runs with the loss of 4 wickets, still, they were lagging 57 runs from the winning target.
When John Campbell, West Indies opener retired hurt after a dangerous Yorker from Jofra Archer before lunchtime Blackwood came in and started to handle the situation.
Roston Chase and Blackwood had made wonderful 73 runs partnership which was broken by Jofra Archer when Roston Chase was caught behind for 37 runs. Before this duo, West Indies scored only 27 runs and already lost 3 wickets.
After Chase, Shane Dowrich joined Blackwood and they established 68 runs partnership for the fifth wicket before Ben Stokes, England captain had kept Dowrich caught behind just for 20 runs. The England skipper also took the wicket of Blackwood with the catch of James Anderson.
Archer finished with 3-45.
Jason Holder Statement:
Jason Holder, West Indies captain said “It was a nerve-wracking beginning after losing three wickets so quickly and Campbell to retired hurt. But Jermaine and Roston made a good partnership and cool down the nerves. From that moment we could build on. At one moment I missed the Barmy Army but it was a cricketing level playing field without any audience. It is a good initiative to international cricket and it sets the series quite nicely.”
The second Test match between West Indies and England starts in Manchester from 16th July (Thursday).
