The West Indies claimed victory in the first Test match held after international cricket resumed from the COVID-19 break. In a match that defied expectations of being a slow affair, the game turned into a genuine thriller, with the West Indies eventually beating England by 4 wickets to open the three-game series.
West Indies clinched victory in the first Test match ever played since the return of international cricket after the break due to coronavirus pandemic. They defeated England by 4 wickets at the last of the match, it is the first of the three matches that will be played. The match was expected to be normal and slow like any other Test match, but to many people’s surprise the match turned out to be a thrilling event.
Closing their second innings at 200-6, the West Indies secured a 1-0 lead in the series. Jermaine Blackwood was the standout performer with 95 runs, and the win was finalized by John Campbell. The journey to the target was rocky, as the visitors initially collapsed, losing three wickets for a mere 27 runs. Stability only returned thanks to a crucial 73-run partnership between Chase and Blackwood, which lasted until Chase was beaten by Archer's impressive bowling.
A further 68-run partnership between Blackwood and Dowrich for the fifth wicket kept the momentum going, though Ben Stokes eventually broke the stand by dismissing Dowrich and later removing Blackwood. Despite the efforts of England's stand-in captain, the bowling attack couldn't stop the West Indies batting lineup from crossing the finish line. Following the match, Jason Holder praised the collective team performance in both batting and bowling for securing this historic win.