ENG vs WI: Talking points from England’s series-winning day
England registered a mammoth 269-run victory in the third Test at Old Trafford, Manchester to clinch the three-match Test series 2-1. West Indies needed to chase down 399 runs or play out the fifth day in order to salvage the series. Despite rain making frequent appearances, it was Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes who secured the historic series victory for England. The series shall be remembered as the first after the coronavirus pandemic had paused live international cricket.
Broad’s 500
A magic moment @StuartBroad8! ???
Scorecard/Videos: https://t.co/pvF724ZqtE#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/pVLazQ57wf
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 28, 2020
Broad finished the third day of the Test on 499 wickets. The rain completely washed out the fourth day and his wait for the 500th scalp was prolonged to the final day of the series. The moment finally came in the eighth over of the day. On the third ball of his seventh over, Broad trapped Kraigg Brathwaite in front of the stumps to complete his 500 wickets in Test cricket. He became only the seventh bowler to do so in the longest format of the game. After his senior James Anderson, the 34-year old is only the second bowler from England to achieve this landmark. Coincidentally Brathwaite was also Anderson’s 500th Test victim.
Woakes leads the way
In the bowling attack studded with Anderson, Broad and Jofra Archer, it was the fourth seamer Chris Woakes, who claimed a 5-wicket haul on the final day. Shai Hope was Woakes’ first wicket on the day and then he went on to claim the key wickets of Shamarh Brooks, Jason Holder and Shane Dowrich. By trapping Rahkeem Cornwall in front of the stumps, Woakes completed his fourth five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
England take the series
A fitting end as @StuartBroad8 takes the wicket that secures a 2-1 series victory! ?
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/pvF725h1lc#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/QLrRqPEThZ
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 28, 2020
Only Jermaine Blackwood offered some resistance against English bowlers amongst the West Indian batting unit. Despite rain’s assistance, the task proved to be well beyond the visitors. They collapsed to 129 all out. Broad, by taking 4 wickets in this innings, finished with the match figures of 10/67. After winning the first Test match at Southampton, West Indies struggled to be consistent and lost both the remaining Tests at Manchester to surrender the series. For England, it was only the fourth instance of them winning a three-Test series after losing the first match. Broad was named England’s player of the series while Roston Chase picked up the same award for West Indies.
