None of us would have thought the side that lost by an innings and 209 runs in the first Test would come back and stun the opposition to clinch the next game. Windies pulled off a magnificent victory in the second Test at Headingley to level the series 1-1 with the decider to be played at the Lord’s.
The foundation was laid by the Windies’ bowlers up front when they restricted the English side to 258 in the first innings. A century from Ben Stokes was overshadowed by the duo of Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach who bagged 4 wickets apiece.
Then, it was all about Shai Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite who shared a stand of 246 runs for the 4th wicket to give Windies the edge in the game. Brathwaite scored 134 and Hope made 147 to render the side to 427, obtaining a massive lead of 169 runs.
Just when it seemed the hosts were thrown out of the match, the Joe Root-led side struck back with as many as 6 half-centuries from the batsmen. As they reached 490/8 and having a lead of 321, Root felt it was sufficient to enforce the second victory on the trot and declared the innings.
The Windies batsmen were determined to chase the target down from the beginning. A solid opening stand of 46 gave them the belief but at 53/2, the match hung in the balance. But it was the duo of Brathwaite and Hope again that frustrated the hosts.
They added 144 runs for the 3rd wicket before Brathwaite was removed for 95 by Moeen Ali. Roston Chase’s 30 supported Hope to bring them closer. Jermaine Blackwood scored a quickfire 41 off 45 balls to give it back to the opposition.
Hope scored his second hundred in the match and became the only batsman do so on the ground ever in first-class cricket. Blackwood fell 2 short of the target but Shai Hope hit the winning runs to seal a superlative run chase. Windies chased down 322 and won the match by 5 wickets and Twitter poured the love on the Caribbean nation.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Windies’s stunning victory
I can't immediately think of a more astonishing Test win in recent years. And a more heart-warming one. #ENGvWI
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) August 29, 2017
England's last 4 Test series:
1st matches of the series – Won, Draw, Won, Won
2nd matches of the series – Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost#ENGvWI— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) August 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/902594641706356736
Delighted with @westindies victory, well played Shai Hope. Hope this is a start of something special for the future. #WIvENG #ENGvWI
— Shubham Khare (@shubhamkhare71) August 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/kow_sik/status/902566958712754177
#ENGvsWI What a knock Shai Hopes is playing for WI. Excitement in test at its best.
— Rakesh singh rawat (@Bablugg) August 29, 2017
It is all about thriving on a challenge.Well done Windies, your fighting spirit is matchless, your DNA is unique, go party hard! #ENGvsWI
— Aalia Rasheed (@aaliaaaliya) August 29, 2017
Fantastic test match. This keeps test cricket alive. Very happy for WestIndies for a victory after so long #ENGvsWI
— The Marks Man (@I_MarksMan) August 29, 2017
Hellloooooo Simon… how you doing? #ENGvsWI https://t.co/9yIJYwZOgz
— Silly Mid-Off (@cricketflu) August 29, 2017
The game wasn't lost with Root's declaration it was lost with the selection of Woakes who clearly isn't match fit. #bbccricket #ENGvsWI
— Matt Tempest (@matt_tempest) August 29, 2017
Shai Hope becomes the FIRST batsman to score hundreds in both innings of a First-Class game at Headingley. Windies need 46 #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/T5MN2GUY7x
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) August 29, 2017
Full of admiration for these two West Indies batsmen, Brathwaite and Shai Hope. England need to worry about their bowling & their behaviour!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/MikeGreenTTLanc/status/902586194575446017
Blackwood has got some golden wood in his hand. Shai Hope has given windies hope and test cricket too. Roston chase guided this epic chase!
— Praveen Reddy (@pra_v) August 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/patelkaran952/status/902586026606051328
Fabulous from Shai Hope. Century in each innings and hopefully, the making of him……
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 29, 2017
