England’s captain Alastair Cook celebrates defeating West Indies during the final day of the second Test at the Grenada National Cricket Stadium in Saint George. (AFP)

Agencies/St George’s, Grenada


England captain Alastair Cook gave the credit for Saturday’s second-test win over West Indies to James Anderson after the seam bowler’s blistering spell in the morning transformed the game.
A draw looked the likeliest outcome when play resumed on the fifth and final day but Anderson removed three West Indies batsmen with the second new ball, including Kraigg Brathwaite for 116, as his team claimed six wickets before lunch.
“The new ball was really crucial. It was all about trying to put the ball in the right areas and credit Jimmy, what an outstanding spell that was,” said Cook who ended unbeaten on 59 as England, with Gary Ballance making 81 not out, reached their target of 143.
“I can’t fault the lads, it was a tough wicket to get any kind of result, slow and flat. To get 20 wickets the way we did was a great effort, down to attitude, character and a lot of skill,” he added after England went 1-0 up in the series.
“You can always improve on a performance but the lads were brilliant. The wickets have been slow and hard to force a result on but we’ve put in a lot of hard work and got our reward today.”
While the plaudits for Anderson, England’s all-time top wicket-taker in Tests, were thoroughly deserved, a superb unbeaten 182 from Joe Root in the first innings won him the Man of the Match award. “We were ruthless today,” said Root. “It is a great win to take forward for the rest of the series and the summer.
“There are so many positives for us all to take and it’s fantastic. I can’t wait to get back out there in Barbados,” he added referring to the third and final test that starts on Friday.With the win, England ended a wait of two-and-a-half years and 10 matches for Test success away from home.
Set a modest target of 143 after the home side folded for 307 in their second innings just after lunch, Gary Ballance (81 not out) and skipper Alastair Cook (59 not out) eased to the target with an unbroken 142-run second-wicket partnership after Jonathan Trott fell without scoring to Shannon Gabriel.
This first away win since a series-clinching seven-wicket triumph over India in Kolkata in December, 2012 means that England have retained the Wisden Trophy—the symbol of supremacy in Test series between the two nations since 1963 -- going into the final Test in Barbados starting next Friday.
James Anderson starred with the ball and in the field at Grenada’s National Stadium on Saturday.  He triggered a collapse which saw the home side lose eight wickets for 83 runs after they resumed in the comfortable position of 202 for two with opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite on 101 and first innings century-maker Marlon Samuels at the crease
His country’s leading wicket-taker in Tests, Anderson made full use of the second new ball in the morning session, removing Brathwaite for 116 with a sharp lifter that was fended to man of the match Joe Root at gully.  
He then added the other key wickets of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, via an excellent reflex-action take by Cook at first slip on the rebound from second slip fielder Ian Bell, and Marlon Samuels to finish with the excellent figures of four for 43 off 22 overs.

Ramdin confident Holder will recover for Barbados Test
West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin said he was hopeful that all-rounder Jason Holder will be fit for the third and final Test against England in Barbados on Friday. Holder fell badly in his delivery stride, turning his left ankle, as West Indies slumped to a nine-wicket defeat to the tourists on Saturday. Although the promising Bajan was stretchered off the field, evidently in some pain, Ramdin said the initial analysis was that the injury was not as bad as it seemed.
“It’s just a slight injury. Hopefully he can rest up for the next few days and come back stronger,” said Ramdin. It was a tough loss for West Indies who had batted well on the fourth day, with Kraigg Brathwaite scoring a century to set up a chance to save the test and force a second straight draw.
But the early loss of Brathwaite and five others before lunch radically shifted the balance of power.
“After four hard days of cricket, to lose the match in one session is really hard but that is how it goes,” said Ramdin.
“England went out and executed their plans and they had the conditions in their favour as the game went on,” he said, referring to England’s winning of the toss which allowed them to put West Indies in to bat in overcast, humid conditions.
England paceman James Anderson took three wickets before lunch with an excellent spell which proved to be too much for West Indies to cope with. “We fought hard for the first four days but losing six wickets in that session cost us the test,” said Ramdin.
“You should take the initiative but James Anderson took it away from us.”


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