WI thrash England by 381 runs
Roston Chase made the key breakthrough before lunch.(ESPN/Getty Images)
Roston Chase made the key breakthrough before lunch.(ESPN/Getty Images)

(ESPN)-A rampaging Roston Chase tore through England’s batting line-up to hand West Indies a comprehensive 381-run victory inside four days in the first Test in Barbados.

Chase finished with career-best Test figures of 8-60 off 21.4 overs to almost single handedly bowl England out for 246 in their second innings but, in truth there were many more architects of the West Indies’ victory.

Kemar Roach’s devastating haul of 5-17 in England’s first innings when the tourists were bowled out for just 77, West Indies captain Jason Holder’s unbeaten second-innings 202 combined with team-mate Shane Dowrich’s 116 not out on a wicketless day three which put England’s target out of reach, some dire shot selection by England batsmen in their second innings combined with Chase’s impressive haul to deliver a memorable victory for West Indies. And, while on the subject of selection, questions are sure to be asked at the England team selection table ahead of the second Test, starting in Antigua on Thursday.

The tourists were always going to face a huge battle over two days to hold out for a draw when they resumed on 56 with no wickets down.

West Indies captain Jason Holder, grabbed another piece of the action in the morning session when he had a hand in dismissing England opener Keaton Jennings.

After his bowlers Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach failed to make inroads, Holder brought Alzarri Joseph into the attack with immediate effect. In his first over of the day, Joseph tempted Jennings to slash at a ball and found a thick outside edge which flew towards Holder, who jumped to his left at second slip with arms raised and pulled the ball down, ending Jennings’ stay at the crease after 84 balls that yielded just 14 runs.

England opener Rory Burns offered some early resistance with a half century, playing a controlled innings to reach 84 off 133 deliveries before he was bowled Chase with a ball that slid inside his defensive push to hit off stump.

England skipper Joe Root won a huge reprieve when, on just 1, he gloved a Gabriel delivery to slip but the bowler was called for a no-ball after overstepping the crease by a considerable distance. Gabriel made amends when he had Jonny Bairstow caught behind by Shai Hope, the stand-in keeper, for 30, which brought Ben Stokes to the crease.

Stokes did not look comfortable early on and West Indies rattled him further with a successful appeal for lbw when he was on just 2. But Stokes was confident he had got bat to ball and consulted DRS, which showed he was right.

Chase then pinned Root back with a delivery that drifted in and the England captain promptly spooned the simplest of catches to Darren Bravo at slip.

Stokes then took the cue to step up, driving Chase over long-on to the boundary and, three balls later, smacking him for six over long off. Stokes and Jos Buttler looked like they might steady the ship for a while until Chase had Stokes out lbw for 34.

Moeen Ali’s dismissal was similar to Root’s – a simple catch to Holder at second slip off Chase.

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