Test cricket, you beauty! With England vs West Indies Test match marking the resumption of international cricket after the Covid-19 pandemic break, the Windies have managed to swiftly win over the first Test match and own it with extreme pride and terrific performance.
With a four-wicket win over the hosts across five days and 15 sessions, West Indies have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series in Southampton.
Jermaine Blackwood’s tremendous 95 in the second innings helped the visitors seal the win on a gripping final day at Ageas Bowl. Chasing 200 to win, Windies had lost three wickets early on in the innings but Blackwood and Roston Chase (37) shared an exceptional 73-run partnership to revive their hopes before skipper Jason Holder and John Campbell steadied the ship to guide them home.
Here’s how the Twitteratis reacted:
Harsha Bhogle: Brilliant result for an understated, determined West Indies side. Excellent test match. This has been good for our game.
Brilliant result for an understated, determined West Indies side. Excellent test match. This has been good for our game.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 12, 2020
Sir Vivian Richards: WHAT A WIN!!! Yes boys @windiescricket 🔥
WHAT A WIN!!!
Yes boys @windiescricket 🔥
— Sir Vivian Richards (@ivivianrichards) July 12, 2020
Daren Sammy: Well done to @windiescricket played with patience great skill and maturity we’ll lead by their captain @Jaseholder98 #ENGvWI 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Well done to @windiescricket played with patience great skill and maturity we’ll lead by their captain @Jaseholder98 #ENGvWI 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) July 12, 2020
Freddie Wilde: A stunning win. WI lost the toss but they were ahead in this match for the large majority of it. Even today when they fell behind—at 7 for 2 (& an opening batsman retired hurt)—they didn’t give in. From selection to strategy to execution – they were the better team. #ENGvWI
A stunning win. WI lost the toss but they were ahead in this match for the large majority of it. Even today when they fell behind—at 7 for 2 (& an opening batsman retired hurt)—they didn’t give in. From selection to strategy to execution – they were the better team. #ENGvWI
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) July 12, 2020
Anjum Chopra: A good win for the West Indies #ENGvWI. Shown very good temperament especially in the chase after losing 3 early wickets. Congrats to @Coachsim13 and his team. Well done @windiescricket #raisethebat
A good win for the West Indies #ENGvWI. Shown very good temperament especially in the chase after losing 3 early wickets. Congrats to @Coachsim13 and his team. Well done @windiescricket #raisethebat
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) July 12, 2020
Dan Whiting: Well played to the West Indies. The better side over the five days. Respect for coming over, respect for the way they have played. Good to see the renaissance in the islands yet again. Well deserved.
Well played to the West Indies. The better side over the five days. Respect for coming over, respect for the way they have played. Good to see the renaissance in the islands yet again. Well deserved.
— Dan Whiting (@TheMiddleStump) July 12, 2020
Deepu Narayan: The record stands… #ENGvWI 55th win in 61 instances chasing 200 or fewer
The record stands… #ENGvWI
55th win in 61 instances chasing 200 or fewer https://t.co/HA5OcTXIbj
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) July 12, 2020
The second and third Tests will be held in Manchester without the audience, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier, England resumed their second innings on 284-8 and were bowled out for 313. West Indies paceman Shannon Gabriel claimed his sixth five-wicket haul in tests, finishing with 5-75.
Congratulations West Indies! Let’s see what the next Tests have to show us.
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