Batsman proves patient with 95 after Gabriel’s five-for keeps target to 200
news agency
Southampton
Jermaine Blackwood’s fighting 95 in the second innings helped West Indies seal a four-wicket win over England on a gripping final day of the first Test at the Ageas Bowl on Sunday.
Chasing 200 to win, West Indies lost three early wickets but Blackwood shared a 73-run stand with Roston Chase (37) to revive their hopes before skipper Jason Holder and John Campbell steadied the ship to guide the visitors home.
West Indies took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second and third Tests to be held in Manchester without fans present in the stadium due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier, England resumed their second innings on 284-8 and were bowled out for 313. West Indies paceman Shannon Gabriel claimed his sixth five-wicket haul in tests, finishing with 5-75.
The fourth day of the first Test match between England and West Indies Saturday saw a flurry of wickets fall after the Windies skipper dismissed his English counterpart Ben Stokes, at Southampton.
England were 284-8 in their second innings at stumps, a lead of 170 runs in a match that marks international cricket´s return from lockdown.
England fought back during a fourth-wicket partnership of 98 between Zak Crawley and Stokes.
But their 249-4 was soon transformed into 279-8 as five wickets fell for just 30 runs inside the final hour.
