This triumph was achieved with significant time to spare, concluding the match more than two days ahead of schedule. The victory target for England was set at 82 runs, which they effortlessly surpassed, ending the game at 87-0 in just 7.2 overs.
A standout performance came from England’s captain, Ben Stokes, who, stepping in as an opener for the injured Zak Crawley, achieved a remarkable milestone.
Stokes recorded the fastest fifty by an England batsman in Test cricket, reaching the mark from just 24 deliveries. This innings was highlighted by an aggressive display of batting, including nine boundaries and a six.
In doing so, Stokes surpassed the previous record for the fastest Test fifty by an England player, a record that had been held by Ian Botham since 1981, who had set the mark against India in Delhi with a fifty from 28 balls.
Stokes’ innings did not just contribute to England’s rapid chase but also etched his name in the record books, finishing the match unbeaten at 57 runs, which included concluding the game with a six off the bowling of West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite.
Earlier in the match, West Indies were bowled out for 175 runs in their second innings, largely due to an exceptional bowling performance from Mark Wood.
Wood, a teammate of Stokes at Durham, delivered a devastating spell, claiming five wickets for nine runs in six overs, ending with figures of 5-40 from his 14 overs. This effort from Wood effectively dismantled the West Indies batting lineup, leaving England with a modest target to chase.
The West Indies batting showed some resilience, with opener Mikyle Louis scoring his maiden Test fifty, contributing 57 runs, and Kavem Hodge adding another 55 runs.
However, their efforts were not sufficient to set a challenging target, as the next highest score in the innings was a mere 12 runs, a total shared by Alick Athanaze, Jason Holder, and extras.
