Shoaib Bashir achieved his highest Test score as England secured a series-clinching 241-run win over West Indies at Trent Bridge after the tourists suffered a massive collapse.
The 20-year-old off-spinner finished the match with a superb return of 5-41, his third five-wicket haul in just five Test matches and his first in England. Meanwhile, West Indies, who were 385 runs away with victory, were bowled out for 143 in the second Test.
West Indies started the match hard at 61-0 but suffered a shock defeat, losing all 10 wickets in their second innings in 23 overs.
With the win secured with more than a day’s rest, England took an unshakable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after a 114-run win at Lord’s.
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“I felt I was a bit inconsistent in the first innings,” Bashir told Sky Sports.
“On the second, I saw a couple spinning a little bit wider and Joe Root told me to throw an aggressive line. I got my reward.”
England captain Ben Stokes praised Bashir, saying: “On a wicket that doesn’t offer spinners much in the game, his ability to change pace, change line and manipulate how he wants the ball to react on the surface was top-notch.”
“He showed the world what he could do,” Stokes added.
“His intention is always to take wickets, never to keep the ends.”
West Indies captain Craig Brathwaite and opening partner Mikhail Lewis navigated a tough early overs for an England batsman who was without pace greats James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who retired from a home Test for the first time since 2012.
But when Chris Woakes (2-28) caught Lewis behind on the first ball after the drinks break, it was the start of a massive top-order slump that saw them lose six wickets and score just 30 runs.
“We batted well in the first innings but couldn’t catch up in the second,” said Brathwaite, whose team scored 457 to take a 41-run lead against England’s initial 416.
Basher struck the third ball of the over on Sunday, catching wicketkeeper Jamie Smith’s ball well from the edge to get Kirk McKenzie out cheaply for the second time this match.
Brathwaite was on 50 for the second time in the match when the experienced opener was caught behind Warks.
And 74-3 turned into 75-4 when Cavem Hodge, who scored his maiden Test hundred in the first innings, was bowled out by Basher.
Bashir once again bowled a classic delivery that bounced around and Alek Athanadze scored 82 in West Indies’ first innings, but was caught by Joe Root at first slip for just one run.
Gus Atkinson’s two wickets from three balls left West Indies on the brink of defeat at 113-8.
But it was Bashir who finished the game, bowling a full and flat ball to Jason Holder (37) before knocking No. 11 Shamar Joseph over the stumps.
West Indies were all out within 37 overs, with 17 wickets claimed in a day on a flawless pitch.
England’s Ollie Pope was named man of the match after scoring 172 runs, including a hundred in the first innings.
Root and Harry Brook both scored hundreds early on Sunday morning as England reached 425 in their second innings.
Root made 122 and Brook 109, and the Yorkshire duo combined for 189 runs as England went 99 runs ahead at 140-3 on Saturday.
Root’s century is one shy of the England record of 33 Test centuries held by the retired Alistair Cook.
England started Sunday’s match on 248-3 and were already 207 runs ahead, with Brooke scoring 71 and Root unbeaten on 37.
Brook hit a quick single off Alzari Joseph, and the 25-year-old scored 500 runs in 14 Tests – the first for England – off 118 balls, including 12 fours. He was then caught behind Jaden Sills.
Root hit a typically stylish square drive boundary off Alzari Joseph, his seventh four off 158 balls, which propelled the former England captain to a calm but precious century.
The third Test match at Edgbaston begins on Friday.
