Ben Stokes praised Shoaib Bashir for his brilliant performance. England performed aggressively to win the second Test match against the West Indies at Trent Bridge. This win sealed a 2-0 lead for England in this three-match Test series. England set a challenging target of 385 runs to win, but the West Indies found it too difficult to chase. Now England will get an opportunity to close out the series with a clean sweep in the final Test match.
The West Indies have been bowled out for only 143 runs in 36 overs. The star of the game is young spinner Shoaib Bashir, who has five wickets for 41 runs. Ben Stokes added that this pitch never looked very kind to spin bowlers throughout the match. However, this victory was built upon the solid performances of England’s key batsmen, Joe Root, and Harry Brook, both scoring centuries and playing important roles to set up the winning position for the match.
Stokes Praises Root, Brook’s Centuries in Test Win
Joe Root and Harry Brook played pivotal innings with their bats for the team. Joe Root made 122, his 32nd Test hundred, and is just one behind Alastair Cook’s record for most hundred by an English batsman. It was just a classy display of traditional batting. He looked quite calm and composed, doing this tough job of making a century.
On the other hand, Harry Brook scored 109 runs, which is his fifth Test century. Harry Brook played aggressive, hard-hitting innings where he seemed quick in racing to his hundred. His display was classy and opportunistic; he contributed considerably toward taking England’s score to a good total. Together, Joe Root and Brook added 189 runs to their side’s total to set up a glittering target against the West Indies.
Stokes Praises Bashir’s Match-Winning Spell
The bowling display by Shoaib Bashir was among the highlights of the game that gave England an edge over their opponents. In that regard, this was a seminal game for the young spinner, who did not bowl in the first Test at Lord’s. Perhaps the best spell in the game that cut the batting of the West Indies down to size was his 5 wickets for 41 runs. Bashir’s capacity for taking vital wickets in quick succession, including those of key players such as Kirk McKenzie, Kavem Hodge, and Alick Athanaze, really proved to be a decisive turn in the direction of the game.
That spell broke the back of the West Indies innings, ensuring they could never get away in a chase. England captain Ben Stokes heaped praise on Shoaib Bashir for his spell, saying the pitch hadn’t been helping the spinners throughout the Test. This match was also of great importance for England, as this was their first home Test since 2012, when Stuart Broad and James Anderson, experienced bowlers, would not appear.
Their absence saw England’s new bowling line-up of Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, and Gus Atkinson make a decent start against the West Indies. The rampant victory put England well ahead in the series and brought out very clearly the depth and strength of their team. This is going to be the final Test at Edgbaston, where England will get an opportunity to close out the series with a clean sweep. This game firmly proved the credentials of England in different conditions, where both experienced and emerging players played a significant role. Moreover, a team without James Anderson is also under making.
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