On this day in 2015: West Indies shock England to level the Test series
England were touring West Indies in April-May 2015 for a three-match Test series. While the first game at North Sound ended in a draw, England secured a 9-wicket victory at St George in the second Test to gain a 1-0 lead over the home side.
Coming into the final test of the series at Bridgetown, Windies were under pressure of conceding a home series to the visitors. After electing to bat first, veteran England opener Alaistair Cook’s solid century (105 off 266, 12 fours) and a half-century from Moeen Ali (58 from 130) took England to 257, with Jerome Taylor bagging 3/36, while both Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder claiming two wickets each.
Having restricted England to a moderate score in the first innings, West Indies were rattled by the mastery of James Andreson, who recorded a six-for, giving only 42 runs in his 12.4 overs. Keeping aside Jermaine Blackwood’s aggressive and counterattacking 88-ball 85, which included 11 fours and four sixes, the second-highest score in the entire lineup was Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s 25 as Windies were wrapped up for 189, conceding a considerable 68-run lead.
In response, England slid to 123 all-out, with Taylor, Holder, and Veerasammy Permaul claiming three-for each. However, the handy first-innings lead meant that England had a slight chance going into the final innings of the game.
Chasing 193, West Indies were rocked early and twice in quick succession as Chris Jordan removed Shai Hope, and Moeen Ali claimed for Kraigg Brathwaite to reduce the opponents to 35/2. A brief partnership followed between Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels, although Broad cleaned up the latter to end his defence.
When Andreson sent back Chanderpaul for a duck only four overs later, West Indies found themselves in a spot of bother and the risk of exposing their lower order. Although Bravo held one end up strongly and got good company from the performer of the first innings, Blackwood. Adding 108 from 191 deliveries for the fifth wicket, the duo got their side within a touching distance of victory.
Unlike the first innings, Blackwood was much settled during his 47-run knock that came off 104 deliveries with four fours and a six. But it was Bravo’s mature 82 off 148 that bailed out West Indies from the trouble. He could not stay until the end to hit the winning runs as Stokes got him caught by Broad, although he had done it for his side by then as West Indies levelled the series with a five-wicket win.
