Southampton: The West Indies team won the Southampton Test. International cricket returned after 117 days due to Corona virus and the visiting team made history by defeating the hosts by 4 wickets. With this, the victory of the new chapter of cricket has become in his name. England had given him a target of 200 runs, which he achieved by scoring 200 runs at the loss of 6 wickets in 64.2 overs. The Caribbean team has now gone 1-0 in the series. The second Test match between the two teams will be played from July 16 in Old Trafford in a bio safe environment. Gabriel, who took 9 wickets in the match, was voted Man of the Match.
England had chances to dismiss Blackwood. Ben Stokes failed to get a hand on a tough opportunity at slip off Dom Bess, gully Rory Burns and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler both dropped catches off Stokes, and Zak Crawley could not gather the ball in the covers when Blackwood and Chase got in a mix-up running a single.
Stand-in captain Stokes threatened to inspire England yet again first by removing Dowrich, then Blackwood when only 11 were needed.
But a limping Campbell returned to join captain Jason Holder and scamper the winning run.
It means West Indies take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, while Stokes is condemned to defeat in his first match as skipper.
Blackwood, one of the architects of West Indies’ famous win at Headingley in 2017, regularly raises his game against England.
Usually a dasher, he was forced to rein in his attacking instincts when he joined Chase with his side on the verge of capitulating.
Gradually they rebuilt, Chase tipping singles and Blackwood occasionally loosening the shackles to slash through the off side.
All of the chances came in the period after lunch, while West Indies also endured another lightning Archer spell in which Chase fell to a brutal bouncer.
Blackwood grew in stature, crashing some rasping drives, and was supported by the doughty Dowrich, who did not wilt in the face of a pace barrage.
Dowrich’s edge behind when 36 were still required raised England’s hopes, but they barely celebrated when Blackwood hammered to James Anderson at mid-off.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special: “It was a great Test and a great week in the circumstances. The best team won, without any question.”
Former England captain Alastair Cook: “All the talk about the toss and Broad will be the main headline, but the batters have to take a bit of that blame. Ultimately they didn’t bat well in the first innings. It wasn’t enough on that wicket.