Southampton, United Kingdom: Jermaine Blackwood made 95 as West Indies beat England by four wickets to win the first Test at Southampton on Sunday.
The visitors, set 200 to win on the last day, finished on 202-6.
The West Indies have not won a Test series in England for 32 years. But this victory put them 1-0 up with two to play in a behind closed doors series ahead of next week’s second Test at Old Trafford.
John Campbell returned to the middle to hit the winning runs after retiring hurt on one.
West Indies captain Jason Holder was 14 not out after the all-rounder took a Test-best 6-42 in England’s lowly first innings 204.
“It is right up there with the best victories we’ve had as a group,” Holder told Sky Sports.
Holder sparked a collapse that saw England lose five wickets for 30 runs late Saturday when he dismissed Stokes.
“To me, yesterday was probably the best day I’ve had in Test cricket,” said Holder.
“It was a hard, long toil and the bowlers really put it in. Every time I asked a bowler to come up and give a spell, they came up and gave a massive effort.”
Victory in a match that marked international cricket’s return from lockdown put the West Indies 1-0 up with two to play in a behind closed doors series.
Windies spearhead fast bowler Shannon Gabriel was named man-of-the-match following combined figures of 9-137, including 5-75 in the second innings.
“I’m still a bit stiff but thankfully there is a couple of days to recover before the next Test match,” said Gabriel.
“Coming here, the guys were confident after playing them back in the Caribbean. We knew we could get the job done.”
The second Test at Old Trafford starts on Thursday.
Brief scores:
England 1st Innings 204 (J Holder 6-42, S Gabriel 4-62)
West Indies 1st Innings 318 (K Brathwaite 65, S Gabriel 61; B Stokes 4-49, J Anderson 3-62)
England 2nd Innings 313 (Z Crawley 76, D Sibley 50; S Gabriel 5-75)
West Indies 2nd Innings 202-6 (J Blackwood 95; J Archer 3-45)
Result: West Indies won by four wickets
