England clinch series with dominant win over West Indies

Bashir’s record-breaking five-for seals the show as Root and Brook hit centuries

LONDON:

England secured a commanding 241-run victory over the West Indies on the fourth day of the second Test at Trent Bridge on Sunday, taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Chasing a daunting target of 385, the West Indies faltered dramatically, collapsing from 61-0 to 82-5 in a rapid succession of wickets. They were ultimately bowled out for 143.

Joe Root and Harry Brook were instrumental in setting up England’s victory. Root’s 122 was his 32nd Test century, putting him just one behind Sir Alastair Cook's England record, while Brook celebrated his first Test century on home soil with a well-crafted 109.

The standout performance came from 20-year-old Shoaib Bashir, who became the youngest England bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a maiden and home Test and the first spinner to do so at Trent Bridge since 2006. Bashir’s figures of 5-41 were pivotal in dismantling the West Indies' batting lineup.

The collapse began with Chris Woakes dismissing Louis, caught behind by Jamie Smith for 17. Bashir then had Kirk McKenzie caught by Smith for one and Brathwaite caught by Smith off Woakes for 47. Kavem Hodge, the first innings centurion, was trapped lbw by Bashir for a duck, and Alick Athanaze edged Bashir to Joe Root at slip for one, leaving the West Indies reeling at 82-5.

Kevin Sinclair fell to Mark Wood, caught by Zak Crawley, and Gus Atkinson trapped Joshua Da Silva lbw for 14. Atkinson then bowled Alzarri Joseph for a duck, Bashir bowled Jason Holder for 37, and finally, Bashir bowled Shamar Joseph for eight to complete the innings.

Reflecting on the match, England captain Ben Stokes told the BBC, "I didn't see it happening that quickly after the opening partnership. The wicket started misbehaving towards the end of our innings, and I thought the way we fought back was impressive. Shoaib showed his class on a pitch that didn't offer much assistance."

England's victory in the first Test at Lord's by an innings and 114 runs set the tone for the series. This win at Trent Bridge marks England's first series triumph since their tour of Pakistan in 2022. The team will aim for a 3-0 clean sweep when the final Test begins at Edgbaston on Friday, with an unchanged squad.