Match: 29 July -2 August
Result: England won by 256 runs
Highlights: Trescothick became first man at Edgbaston to score tons in both innings of a match, Ashley Giles took a stunning match haul of 9-122 and Flintoff hit 167 runs in the first innings of just 191 balls.
England rode high on the back of another match-winning performance by rejuvenated spinner Ashley Giles to win the second Test against West Indies. They won by 256 runs at Edgbaston, with Giles taking 5-57 for a stunning match haul of 9-122, to add to his 9-210 in the first Test victory at Lord’s.
England rode high on the back of another match-winning performance by rejuvenated spinner Ashley Giles to win the second Test against West Indies.
Marcus Trescothick hit an effortless 105 from 182 balls to frustrate the West Indian team and guided England to 313 for 5 at close of play on day one. After hurtling to his fifty in a breakneck first hour, Trescothick throttled back and bedded down, and didn’t reach three figures until the penultimate over before tea. His century was the bedrock of England’s innings and was made all the more valuable because it came in spite of a much-improved West Indian bowling performance, in which Dwayne Bravo was once again instrumental
England took the upper hand on the second day at Edgbaston, with Andrew Flintoff’s 167 leading a helter-skelter charge to 566, after which Matthew Hoggard ripped out two quick wickets. But then Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan fought back, batting throughout the final session. West Indies ended a day on which 437 runs were scored still 382 behind, with a lot to do to save the match. Flintoff dominated England’s innings, slamming seven sixes and 17 fours in what was his fourth Test century and his highest first-class score.
It all meant that England had the psychological edge when West Indies came out for a tricky half-an-hour before tea, and that advantage spiralled in the first over, when Devon Smith was squared up by Hoggard and squirted one out over gully, where Giles timed his leap well for a one-handed grab (5 for 1). Hoggard struck again in his next over, knocking back Chris Gayle’s leg stump as he shuffled across (12 for 2). The West Indies then fought back with Lara and Sarwan who consolidated after tea, batting throughout the entire session without further alarms, and scoring quickly as well – Captain and vice-captain had put on 172 entertaining runs by the close.
England finished with a dominating lead of 378 runs, with seven wickets in hand, thanks to an unbeaten 88 from Marcus Trescothick.
After an eventful third day’s play at Edgbaston, England were in control of the match, despite a West Indian fightback with the ball after tea. England finished with a dominating lead of 378 runs, with seven wickets in hand, thanks to an unbeaten 88 from Marcus Trescothick. Earlier, West Indies lost their last seven wickets for only 39 following a 209-run partnership between Ramnaresh Sarwan, who scored his first Test century against England, and Brian Lara, who narrowly missed out on his hundred.
England stormed to victory, winning by 256 runs after tea on the fourth day to go 2-0 up in the series and thus retain the Wisden Trophy. Ashley Giles was again the hero of the victory charge, picking up 5 for 57 as West Indies were bowled out for 222 in pursuit of an academic 478.
England stormed to victory, winning by 256 runs after tea on the fourth day to go 2-0 up in the series and thus retain the Wisden Trophy.
Even though England were bowled out quite quickly for 248, with Chris Gayle taking Test-best figures of 5 for 34, it was again their day as the bowlers took control in the final session. Giles picked up three of the six wickets to fall after tea, including Gayle for 82, to take his tally for the match to nine, and become the first English spinner since Tony Lock against New Zealand in 1958 to do so in consecutive Tests.
TICKET UPDATE FOR THEIR 10TH ENCOUNTER AT EDGBASTON
Joe Root’s England take on Jason Holder’s West Indies in the UK’s first ever day/night Test Match from Thursday 17th August. Demand on tickets for this historic match has been huge with day 2 (Friday 18 August) and day 3 (Saturday 19 August) on the verge of selling-out.
Tickets are on-sale priced from just £26 for adults and £6 for juniors (U16s). Please click here to purchase online or call the ticket hotline on 0844 847 1902.
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