WI vs ENG, 2nd Test ends in draw: Records broken
Kraigg Brathwaite and Joshua Da Silva helped West Indies salvage a draw on Day 5 of the second Test against England at Kensington Oval, Barbados. The hosts finished on 135/5 after England gave them a 282-run target. Brathwaite was adjudged the Player of the Match for his twin 50+ scores. The two-match Test series ended in a draw. Here are the records.
How did the match pan out?
England racked up a mammoth 507/9d after electing to bat. Joe Root and Ben Stokes slammed tons. In reply, WI amassed 411, with skipper Brathwaite playing a marathon knock of 160 (489). Jermaine Blackwood too registered a century. England declared on 185/6 in the second innings. WI finished on 135/5 while chasing 282. Brathwaite (56*) and Joshua Da Silva (30*) returned unbeaten.
Brathwaite led from the front
WI captain Kraigg Brathwaite earned praise for his marathon knock in the first innings. He had scored his 10th Test century on Day 3. Brathwaite played a captain's knock after the hosts were in a spot of bother. He went on to bat on Day 4 too, registering his second score of 150 or more. Brathwaite finished on 160 off 489 balls (17 fours).
Brathwaite breaks this record of Brian Lara
Brathwaite faced 673 balls in the match (112.1 overs), the most by a West Indian batter in Test cricket since Brian Lara's record-breaking 400* in 2004. Lara played a total of 582 balls in that innings. Incidentally, his knock also came against England. Meanwhile, Brathwaite scored 56* off 184 balls in the second innings. He was adjudged the Player of the Match.
Root attains these feats
England captain Joe Root shone on the opening day. He slammed his second century in back-to-back Tests, his 25th overall in Test cricket. Root, who smashed 153, broke a slew of records. He has now registered eight Test tons since the start of last year. Root became the only player to register over 2,000 Test runs in this period.
Root surpasses Kane Williamson
Root has left behind his compatriot Kane Williamson in terms of Test centuries. The latter owns 24 tons in the format. The England captain has also emulated former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq on the list, who had finished his career with 25 Test tons.
Stokes slammed his 11th Test century
Star all-rounder Ben Stokes led England's charge on Day 2 with a superb century. He fired a sensational 120 from just 128 balls (11th Test century). His knock was laced with 11 fours and 6 sixes. Stokes shared a key century-plus stand alongside Root. In the process, the England all-rounder touched the 5,000-run mark in Test cricket.
The double of 5,000 runs and 150 wickets
Stokes became just the fifth player to register the double of 5,000 runs and 150 wickets in Test cricket, after Garry Sobers, Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, and Jacques Kallis. Besides scoring 5,055 runs, Stokes has also claimed 172 scalps at 32.22.
