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Windies Skipper Holder Sparks England Collapse

N

Nyakundi Report

Newsroom 2 min read

This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.

On the fourth day of the first Test at Southampton, West Indies captain Jason Holder made a crucial impact by removing opposing skipper Ben Stokes, sparking a dramatic England collapse.

England's second innings were 284-8, with a lead of 170 runs in a match that marked international cricket's return from lockdown.

Earlier, England had fought back with a fourth-wicket partnership of 98 between Zak Crawley and Stokes, who top-scored with 43 in England's meagre first-innings 204.

However, their 249-4 was soon transformed into 279-8 as five wickets fell for just 30 runs inside the final hour.

Stokes fell to Holder for the second time in the match, and soon after, Crawley was caught and bowled by paceman Alzarri Joseph for a Test-best 76.

England's hopes of a comeback were further dashed when Jos Buttler fell for nine, bowled through a huge gap between bat and pad by Joseph, who had stumps figures of 2-40.

West Indies spearhead Shannon Gabriel then bowled Dom Bess and Ollie Pope, leaving England reeling.

West Indies hold the Wisden Trophy but have not won a Test series in England for 32 years. Victory on Sunday would put them 1-0 up with two to play.

West Indies coach Phil Simmons said, 'All you can do is get the two remaining wickets and bat normally. If we bat for five hours tomorrow to chase 180-190, it's a normal batting day, not a chase where you have to go at it.'

England's Zak Crawley, however, remained optimistic, saying, 'It should be tight if we bowl well tomorrow. We've definitely got the bowlers to take 10 wickets on there.'

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