On this day in 2017: West Indies stun England as they chase down 322 in Headingley
There is no way to begin this story other than to bang from the middle. Going into the last day of the Headingley Test, West Indies needed 317 runs to win with 10 wickets. Before we get to what they did, let’s discuss what had transpired before this.
If we look back at the history of the West Indies and England matches, there have been some wonderful games of cricket. However, the West Indian team experienced a decline after their golden generations. They kept punching above their weight since 2000 but were never good enough to win a Test. Since their innings win in Edgbaston in the first Test of the 2000 series, West Indies had a drought in England, failing to win a Test in 17 years.
The first Test of the 2017 series too went horribly wrong. In the first-ever day-night Test in England, West Indies lost 19 wickets in a day to lose the first Test by an innings and 209 runs. There wasn’t an inch of doubt that England would demolish the Windies in the second Test as well. But, four-wicket hauls from Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel led West Indies to bowl England out for 258 runs in their first innings on day one.
On day two, West Indies found themselves at 35/3. Everyone would have thought that they were in for another collapse. But, Kraigg Brathwaite’s 134 and Shai Hope’s 147 didn’t just rescue West Indies but put them 169 runs in front of England’s first-innings total.
At one point when England was 327 for 7, with only 158 runs ahead, West Indies might have felt they had a sniff. But Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes’ half-centuries put England in a commanding position. Captain Joe Root felt 322 was going to be enough for a day’s play as he declared England’s innings on 490/8.
At 53/2, in the very first session on day five, Hope joined Brathwaite once again as the duo followed up their 246-run stand from the first innings with another 144-run partnership. Brathwaite was dismissed for 95 but Hope went on to become the first-ever cricketer to make a century in both innings of a first-class game at Headingley. He stayed unbeaten on 122, while there was a quick hand from Jermaine Blackwood of 41 runs from 45 balls in the end as West Indies chased the total with 28 balls to spare in the day.
This win would remain a historic one for the West Indies. It was against all odds and against an English unit that had James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, and Chris Woakes. This moment took place four years ago, on this day at Headingley in an evening which was cherished by every West Indian on and off the field.
