West Indies vs England match report: Windies best a worn out England to tie series 1-1

It was a thoroughly absorbing struggle, a surprising climax to a contest that has demanded attrition – and was getting it right to the end

Jimmy Anderson shows his frustration as a chance goes begging for England (Getty)

On a sweltering, thrilling, oppressive afternoon, West Indies won the third Test to tie the series. The repercussions for the England team could be dramatic and immediate. The tourists came here as hot favourites and although they went 1-0 up in the series they were well beaten by five wickets on Sunday after a calmly resolute fifth-wicket partnership of 108 between Darren Bravo and Jermaine Blackwood.

It was a thoroughly absorbing struggle, a surprising climax to a contest that has demanded attrition – and was getting it right to the end, if in a different way. West Indies were set 192 to win on the third day of the third Test after dismissing England, who began at 39 for 5, for 123.

The tourists’ total was not as high as they would have wished, but much higher than they might have feared. Eighteen wickets had fallen on the second day and a similar procession on the third would almost certainly mean that the tourists would prevail.

If West Indies were nudging ahead throughout most of their second innings, moving sedately from a perilous 80 for 4, England still had a kitchen sink to throw at them. For England, to lose this match after going 1-0 up and seemingly dominant might be terminally damaging to the present regime.

Darren Bravo held West Indies’ second innings together (Getty)

With a new director of cricket expected to be named any day – and Andrew Strauss the apparently unopposed bookies’ favourite – the position of the coach, Peter Moores, and presumably his backroom staff would be under immediate threat. As the director of operations on the field, Alastair Cook’s position as captain would also merit close examination.

Before this tour started, the incoming chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Colin Graves, had warned there would be an inquiry if England failed to defeat a mediocre West Indies. Roundly lambasted though he was, some of the cricket from both teams in this Test, particularly the batting, has been exactly that.

Graves may suggest to his new director that it is time for a change. West Indies have been much more resilient and capable than many expected but they are eighth in the ICC Test rankings, England are third. The biggest disappointment for England is that they should perform so moderately after that their last-ditch win in the second Test, which seemed to have shifted the balance.

England’s last five wickets added 84 runs, barely adequate in many cases, precious in this context. It gave them a lead of 192, which by most estimates was sufficient given the way the pitch had behaved.

But it demanded both early breakthroughs with the new ball and that the surface continued to be capricious. Neither happened, though England hardly helped themselves by shelling an early slip catch.

It was offered by the nervous debutant, Shai Hope, and spurned by Joe Root, diving to his left at third slip. It was a tough chance but it merely pointed up the absence from the cordon of England’s most formidable slip fielder, Chris Jordan.

When Kraigg Brathwaite edged through the place where third slip would have stood (there was a first, second and fourth, but not third) England might have feared the worst. They were clearly edgy, twice calling for reviews of decisions that were at best marginal.

They wanted another look at a supposed catch offered by Brathwaite down the leg side to the wicketkeeper, prompted for mysterious reasons by Jonathan Trott. Replays confirmed that neither bat nor glove came into contact with the ball.

Two overs later, a tight lbw decision was turned down against Braithwaite. On another day it might have been given but on no day was it worth risking a referral.

Moeen Ali celebrates a wicket (Reuters)

England needed a spark of inspiration. It came from a double bowling change. Jordan, finding some late reverse swing, had an lbw appeal upheld. With reviewing now contagious, Hope also asked the third umpire’s intervention and was also disappointed.

The importance of Moeen Ali to England’s aspirations was obvious and he responded immediately. Coming round the wicket to Brathwaite, the ball drifted across the right-hander, who edged between wicketkeeper and slip. Unfortunately for him, Jordan had been reinstated.

The ball seemed to be flying past but he stuck out a left hand and snaffled the catch. In slip fielding terms, Jordan routinely turns water into wine.

At 35 for 2, the door was open but it began slowly to shut again. Bravo and Marlon Samuels as good as declared that they were going nowhere. To combat this steadfast approach, England dried up their scoring opportunities. With Root tying up one end and Stuart Broad suddenly perking up at the other, 22 balls went by without a run.

If it seemed surprising that Root had been called up to replace Moeen, it was the correct move. Moeen was simply bowling too many bad balls. It augured badly for this match and the immediate future.

Broad took the third wicket, a lovely piece of bowling to Samuels, who watched two away swingers go past and then was stuck rather too casually on the crease as one seamed back and bowled him.

Anderson’s first ball after tea was wide and short outside the off stump. Shiv Chanderpaul followed it indeterminately and dragged it back onto his stumps to make it 80 for 4.

It was gripping stuff, as it had been all match. After careering to 39 for 5 the previous evening, England had to attempt to introduce a more rigorous note. So it was that Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler applied themselves to the task at hand. Both chaps who like to cut a lick, they had to survive. The pitch seemed to have eased, which equally might have been ominous for England.

Stokes was beginning to look completely at home when he came down the pitch to Veerasammy Permaul and drove to cover. With Jordan and the hapless Broad following almost immediately, Buttler had to show intent. He did so admirably, making room and being bold, and England put on 25 for the last wicket.

England 257 & 123

West Indies 189 & 194-5