England have ruthlessly sealed a 241-run victory over West Indies in the second Test to complete a series win with a match to spare.
With West Indies leading by 41 runs after the first innings, England found themselves in a far tougher battle than they encountered in the opening Test at Lord's.
However, resuming on 248-3 at the start of Sunday's play, Stokes's side were in a position of power, and Joe Root and Harry Brook both hit centuries to leave West Indies requiring 385 to win with four sessions remaining.
Instead of making steady progress until the close and keeping wickets intact, the tourists were blown away in just 36.1 overs, with Shoaib Bashir taking five wickets as West Indies only made 143.
ROOOOOOOOOT! 🗣
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 21, 2024
A 32nd Test match century for Joe Root, in trademark fashion 🤩 pic.twitter.com/2BDsxAsJEY
Root, Brook show class
When West Indies had England on 140-3, they would have felt very much in the game, but Root and Brook picked up where they had left off on Saturday night.
The pair would make 189 runs for the fourth wicket, Brook eventually departing for 109 from 132 balls, and Ben Stokes (8) and Jamie Smith (6) would quickly follow.
Nevertheless, Chris Woakes (12) and Gus Atkinson (21*) played valuable support roles as Root made his 32nd Test century, hitting 122 from 178 deliveries to help take England to 425 all out.
Shoaib Bashir is on FIRE. 🔥
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 21, 2024
Figures of 3-8 from his three overs after this absolute peach to remove Alick Athanaze 🍑 pic.twitter.com/8mDhXMbmmi
Bashir makes up for lost time
Having failed to bowl a single ball at Lord's, Bashir has been itching to showcase his ability to a wide England audience, and he certainly did that on Sunday evening.
During a memorable spell, the 20-year-old took figures of 3-8 in 2.5 overs, before ending an entertaining knock of 37 from Jason Holder to leave West Indies one wicket away from defeat.
Bashir got his five-for by bowling Shamir Joseph to end with 5-41, while Woakes (2-28) and Atkinson (2-49) also made contributions. Kraigg Braithwaite (47) top-scored for the tourists, his runs having come inside the first 16 overs.
Darren Plant
