Windies crushed by an innings and 209 runs

Jermaine Blackwood goes on the attack during his unbeaten 79 in the West Indies first innings on Saturday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

BIRMINGHAM, England, CMC – West Indies suffered a humiliating innings and 209-run defeat in the historic day/night opening Test after losing 19 wickets in a devastating capitulation on Saturday’s third day at Edgbaston.

Resuming the day on 44 for one in their first innings facing the massive task of overtaking England’s imposing 514 for eight declared, West Indies were bundled out for 168 in their first innings despite an aggressive, better than-run-a-ball unbeaten 79 from Jermaine Blackwood.

Forced to follow on by 346 runs, the Caribbean side were then rolled over for a paltry 137 in their second innings with only opener Kraigg Brathwaite showing any resistance with a top score of 40.

On both occasions, the Windies were undermined by England’s seamers, with the innings failing to last 50 overs.

Jermaine Blackwood goes on the attack during his unbeaten 79 in the West Indies first innings on Saturday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

The defeat left West Indies trailing 1-0 in the three-Test series, further extending their dismal record of having not won a Test in England in 17 years.

Starting the day with high hopes of making a strong showing, the Windies confidence was dented early with a clatter of wickets, losing seven to find themselves tottering on 145 for eight at lunch.

Kyle Hope failed to add to his overnight 25, stabbing a lifter from seamer Jimmy Anderson to Ben Stokes at gully in the day’s first over and Kieran Powell had added two two his overnight 18 when he failed to beat Anderson’s direct hit at the non-striker’s end and perished via the run out route in the next over.

The Windies then lost their third wicket of the session for just three runs when Roston Chase was bowled by Anderson without scoring, as they limped to 47 for four.

Blackwood looked in great touch as he dominated a 42-run fifth wicket partnership with Shai Hope who made 15, as West Indies rallied.

Ther right-hander, dropped for the previous series against Pakistan, played with confidence to strike nine fours and two sixes off just 76 deliveries.

However, once Shai Hope inside-edged a drive at seamer Toby Roland Jones an hour before the interval, the Windies slumped again with Shane Dowrich (4), captain Jason Holder (11) and Kemar Roach (5) falling cheaply.

Dowrich was plumb lbw to Roland Jones, Holder nicked a push at off-spinner Moeen Ali to be caught at the wicket while Roach was comprehensively bowled by Roland-Jones.

Unbeaten on 60 at the interval, Blackwood carried on where he left off afterwards but found no support as the innings folded half-hour into the second session.

Alzarri Joseph, unbeaten on two at the break, was lbw to Broad in the fifth over before last man Miguel Cummins was run out without scoring.

Anderson finished with three for 34 while Roland-Jones (2-31) and Broad (2-47) claimed two wickets apiece.

The Windies fared little better in their second turn at the crease, losing Powell in the fifth over for 10, caught at first slip by Alistair Cook – edging a firm push at Anderson in the fifth over with 15 on the board.

Kyle Hope then perished for 12 after adding 26 for the second wicket with Brathwaite, lbw to a full length delivery from Roland-Jones.

And Kyle’s younger brother Shai Hope fell half-hour before tea, caught at second slip by captain Joe Root off seamer Stokes for four.

Brathwaite, who failed to score in the first innings, played defiantly in a knock that consumed 76 deliveries and included seven fours but fell in the final over before tea, coming too far across to Moeen Ali and going lbw on review.

Rocking at 76 for four at the interval, the Windies found solace afterwards in a 36-run, fifth wicket partnership between Chase who struck 12 and Blackwood, who made 12.

Together, they saw West Indies past the 100-run mark before being separated when Blackwood missed a charge at Moeen and was stumped.

His dismissal triggered a terminal decline as West Indies lost four wickets for 13 runs in the space of 38 deliveries to crash to 115 for eight.

Roach (12) and Joseph (8) held up England albeit briefly with a 22-run, ninth wicket stand before both fell in successive overs to bring the innings to an end.

Broad (3-34) once again led the attack while Anderson (2-12), Roland-Jones (2-18) and Moeen Ali (2-54) supported with two wickets each.