No complaints about the result better side won
First Test, day five, Ageas Bowl
England 204 (Holder 6-42) & 313 (Crawley 76, Gabriel 5-75)
West Indies 318 (Brathwaite 65) & 200-6 (Blackwood 95)
West Indies won by four wickets.
Chasing 200 on the final day in Southampton, the tourists were reduced to 27-3 and lost opener John Campbell retired hurt, mainly to a fired-up Jofra Archer.
But the nerveless Blackwood calmly combined with Roston Chase for a stand of 63, then added 68 with Shane Dowrich.
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.
Joe Root will return to lead England when the second behind-closed-doors Test begins at Old Trafford on Thursday.
If the tourists avoid defeat there, they will retain the Wisden Trophy they earned with a series victory in the Caribbean 18 months ago.
This fluctuating contest was a wonderful start to an international summer that for so long was threatened by the coronavirus pandemic.
The only thing missing was a crowd. How might England have benefitted from home support as they pushed for victory in the still sunshine of a glorious Sunday afternoon.
![[Image: 872011-jemimahblackwoodicc.jpg]](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2020/07/12/872011-jemimahblackwoodicc.jpg)
That is to take nothing away from the performance of West Indies, who once again impressed with their attitude, application and determination. In the first part of this match, the tourists were quicker than England to adapt to the conditions, atmosphere and lack of preparation.For England, debate will surround the decision to omit Stuart Broad in favour of the extra pace of Archer and Mark Wood, but it was Archer's performance that kept them in the hunt on the final day.In reality, they paid the price for being bowled out for only 204 in their first innings.
First Test, day five, Ageas Bowl
England 204 (Holder 6-42) & 313 (Crawley 76, Gabriel 5-75)
West Indies 318 (Brathwaite 65) & 200-6 (Blackwood 95)
West Indies won by four wickets.
Chasing 200 on the final day in Southampton, the tourists were reduced to 27-3 and lost opener John Campbell retired hurt, mainly to a fired-up Jofra Archer.
But the nerveless Blackwood calmly combined with Roston Chase for a stand of 63, then added 68 with Shane Dowrich.
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.
Joe Root will return to lead England when the second behind-closed-doors Test begins at Old Trafford on Thursday.
If the tourists avoid defeat there, they will retain the Wisden Trophy they earned with a series victory in the Caribbean 18 months ago.
This fluctuating contest was a wonderful start to an international summer that for so long was threatened by the coronavirus pandemic.
The only thing missing was a crowd. How might England have benefitted from home support as they pushed for victory in the still sunshine of a glorious Sunday afternoon.
That is to take nothing away from the performance of West Indies, who once again impressed with their attitude, application and determination. In the first part of this match, the tourists were quicker than England to adapt to the conditions, atmosphere and lack of preparation.For England, debate will surround the decision to omit Stuart Broad in favour of the extra pace of Archer and Mark Wood, but it was Archer's performance that kept them in the hunt on the final day.In reality, they paid the price for being bowled out for only 204 in their first innings.
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?