For those who know or don’t know, Windies beat England in the 1st Test at Barbados, by a huge margin of 381 runs. Now that’s pretty big news given that England has been one of the better test teams over the last couple of years, while the hosts haven’t exactly been playing a lot of good cricket.
However, this Test match will more be remembered for some individual performances rather than the overall victory that took Windies up 1-0 in the 3-match series. Kemar Roach’s red-hot spells that shattered England to 77 all out is one that comes to mind. Skipper Jason Holder’s maiden double century is another, while Roston Chase picking up 8/60 in the 2nd innings is another.
Windies already bagged a huge 1st innings lead and they didn’t need to bat out of their skin in the 2nd innings. They were batting at 120/6 in the 2nd innings and what followed was some sheer brilliance from Holder and Shane Dowrich, scoring at 4+ runs an over to stitch up a record partnership of 295*.
This became the 3rd highest 7th wicket partnership in the history of test cricket, with Holder bringing up his first ever 200+ score, ending with 202(229)*, which also brought up the declaration. Dowrich on the other hand ended with 116(224)*, but I personally believe these two could’ve gone on as there was so much of time in this test. Why not score 60 runs more and create the best ever 7th wicket partnership?
It would’ve been a magical moment for Holder, the kind of moment that reminds us of Jason Gillespie coming out at #3 as a nightwatchman and scoring a double hundred against Bangladesh in 2006. However, this was much different as the English bowling attack is much better than the Bangladesh one of over a decade back.
200 moment:
2️⃣2️⃣9️⃣ deliveries
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣ not outMost sixes hit from a West Indies batsman against England.
Simply sensational from Jason Holder!
? Watch #WIvENG live: https://t.co/GV1hWtHVR7
? Live blog: https://t.co/1eXUjpZwDJ pic.twitter.com/x8QRY4HWk1— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 25, 2019
England started their 2nd innings well, ending Day 3 at 56/0, which was almost as much as their entire 1st innings score. Early the next day however, the wickets started coming and it was time for another hero to be made in Roston Chase. The part-time off spinner picked up 8/60 and ended the game for his country, recording the 52nd best bowling figures in test history!
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