Jubilation in Grenada as West Indies defeated England in the final of the three-match Test series at the National Stadium on Sunday to claim the newely-minted Richards/Botham Trophy — with with a day and a half to spare.
The 10-wicket victory in the deciding Test came after escaping with draws in Antigua and Barbados.
Performances by wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva — his maiden Test century (100 not out) and Kyle Mayers with his medium pace bowling were the main factors between the two teams in the deciding Test.
Da Silva’s century gave the West Indies a handy lead of 93 runs before Mayers wrecked England’s top order batting 5-9 in the second innings.
Chasing a target of 28 runs in the second innings, West Indies reached it without loss to seal a 1-0 series triumph and end England’s poor record of the Caribbean.
Kraigg Brathwaite was named Player of the Series on the back of his batting in the second Test, when he saved West Indies with a marathon first innings of 160 followed by an unbeaten 56.
Da Silva was named Man-of-the-Match.
England resumed on Sunday with a lead of only 10 runs and two wickets in hand but stout resistance by tail-ender Jack Leah ended when fast bowler Kemar Roach picked up both wickets- leaving England all out for 120.
England has only one series win in Tests against the West Indies in the past two decades a 3-0 victory in 2003-2004.
The series win was the second over England in four years but only West Indies’ first in their last four tours, following defeats to Sri Lanka and South Africa and stalemates gainst the Sri Lankans and Pakistan.
Scores were: England 204 and 120.West Indies 297 and 28 without loss in 4.5 overs.
