West Indies completed a comprehensive 10 wicket victory over England in the deciding test in Grenada, shortly before lunch on the fourth day. England started the day in a perilous position with a lead of only ten runs with just two wickets remaining.
It wasn’t long before Kemar Roach removed Chris Woakes(19) and Jack Leach(4) in the first hour to leave the West Indies the simple task of 28 runs to win to clinch the Richards-Botham trophy.
Brathwaite, leading from the front
It was rather appropriate that the leader run scorer in the series Kraigg Brathwaite hit the winning runs to bring up 341 runs in the series.
On the opening morning of the final test, West Indies won an important toss and inserted England on a very lively surface. England made one change by bringing in Craig Overton.
Another sorry England batting collapse
The visitors slipped from 23-0 to 90-8 after losing three wickets for no runs after lunch including the prized scalp of Joe Root for a duck. Some welcome late resistance from Woakes(25) helped England reach 114-9 before some stubborn late resistance from Leach and Saqib Mahmood helped England close on 204-9.
The pair added 90 for the final wicket before Mahmood(49) was bowled by Jermaine Blackwood to leave England 204 all out.
England hit back with the ball
West Indies reached 50 without loss when Ben Stokes trapped Brathwaite(17) lbw. Wickets fell at regular intervals, with the hosts slumping to 128-7. However, like England they were indebted to the lower order of Alzarri Joseph and Joshua Da Silva adding 49 for the eighth wicket to leave West Indies at the close on day two on 232-8, a lead of 28.
On the third morning, Roach fell early for 25 but Da Silva moved on to a well deserved maiden century with the hosts bowled out for 297 and a more than useful lead of 93.
Kyle Mayers reaps havoc with the ball
England’s second innings was soon in tatters after slumping to 39-4 with Root(5) caught at slip, Dan Lawrence(0) and Stokes(4) all falling to Kyle Mayers.There was some resistant from Jonny Bairstow(22) and Alex Lees(31), before England closed on 103-8, a slender lead of only ten runs. Mayers finishing with figures of 5-18.
The end was nigh on the fourth day, and it wasn’t long before England were put out of their misery. Overall, the West Indies thoroughly deserved their series win, having produced the goods when the moments mattered.
Where do England go from here?
The loss continues England’s miserable run of form. This was their fourth test series loss in a row and comes on the back of a miserable Ashes 4-0 loss. They are also winless in nine matches and have only won one of their last 17 tests.