Shoaib Bashir revels in 'special' display as England roll West Indies to seal series win at Trent Bridge
Published 21/07/2024 at 22:54 GMT+1
Shoaib Bashir starred as England cruised past West Indies to win the second Test, taking five wickets as the home side won by 241 runs. Centuries for Joe Root and Harry Brooks gave England an early lead on day four at Trent Bridge. Although the tourists fought back, a spectacular collapse after tea saw them all out for 143, giving England an unassailable 2-0 lead ahead of the final Test.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
England dismantled West Indies to clinch the second Test and the series, winning by 241 runs as the tourists collapsed on day four at Trent Bridge.
A brilliant performance by Shoaib Bashir secured the victory as West Indies were bowled out for 143.
The tourists were set a victory target of 385 to win the second Test and level the series after England had won at Lord’s to go 1-0 ahead, but the home side impressed with the ball to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Off-spinner Bashir claimed figures of 5-41, his third five-wicket haul in as many Tests, to end the action on day four.
"It was special,” the England spinner told BBC Test Match Special.
“First time I've bowled in England for England, special to finish it off in a session. Still trying to soak everything in, that innings went so quickly.
"I watched [West Indies spinner, Kevin] Sinclair bowl, he wasn't getting much spin, so I wasn't hopeful. But things can happen quite quickly in cricket.”
It was a first multi-match Test series win since the tour of Pakistan in 2022 for Ben Stokes’ side, who will be full of confidence heading to Edgbaston on Friday for the final Test.
England have confirmed they will field the same side on Friday, including Player of the Match Ollie Pope, who scored 172 runs in the Test.
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The tourists started brightly, reaching 61-0 to raise hopes of a shock victory chase, but Chris Woakes broke the opening stand by having Mikyle Louis caught behind by Jamie Smith.
Woakes inflicted a bigger blow a couple of overs later as captain Kraigg Brathwaite also edged behind to Smith, while Kirk McKenzie became Bashir's first victim as West Indies slumped to 74-3.
Their plight worsened as Kavem Hodge, who became a maiden centurion on day two at Trent Bridge, could not replicate his first innings heroics of 120. He was dismissed for a duck by Bashir, trapped lbw.
Alick Athanaze could only add a solitary run to his 82 in the first innings as West Indies were in danger of being blown away without reaching three figures.
Jason Holder stopped the rot to an extent and his four fours and two sixes took West Indies into three figures.
Holder and Joshua Da Silva played patiently to slow England’s momentum but it just as quickly turned again as Gus Atkinson claimed two wickets in one over. He trapped Da Silva lbw before bowling Alzarri Joseph to leave the tourists on 113-8.
Bashir was then rewarded with the final two wickets of Holder and Shamar Joseph.
The tourists were ultimately blown away, but earlier in the day things were finely balanced.
West Indies had hopes of knocking England over cheaply from their overnight position of 248-3, but Joe Root made 122 to become the eighth-highest scorer in Test history, and Harry Brook secured his first Test century on home soil.
England were all out for 425 and the victory target of 385 proved well beyond West Indies, who will head to Edgbaston looking to avoid a whitewash.
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