Match: 25th-28th July 1991 (4th Test)
Toss: West Indies won the toss and decided to field
Result :West Indies won by 7 wickets
Highlights: Patterson’s 5-81 and Richie Richardson’s 104.
The 4th Test at Edgbaston in 1991 saw the series all-square, with all to play for in the 5 game series. The Edgbaston pitch showed some early indications that it was going to turn later in the game, which played into the hosts favour, after being thrashed by 9 wickets in the 3rd Test at Trent Bridge. Having been pegged back England now needed a solid start and were looking for their top order to take the game to the Windes attack, having been put in to bat after losing the toss.
Unfortunately things didn’t quite go to plan for England, as Hugh Morris was dismissed after just 9 balls and England were under early pressure from the West Indies bowling attack. Things went from bad to worse for the hosts as Curtly Ambrose and Malcolm Marshall inflicted the majority of the damage to the batting line-up and the home side slumped to first innings total of 188 on a tough Day One. While the scorecard isn’t particularly flattering at first glance, the England side didn’t capitulate, their batters hung around but failed to get into any scoring rhythm. Only Graham Gooch looked like amassing a decent total until he fell, just short of 50.
In contrast, Richie Richardson’s 104 put the West Indies in front and frustrated the England field with his effortless style in a superb innings. Richardson was the only batsmen to get over 50 in the first innings, and his knock was in stark contrast to many of the more loose shots played on a very bowler friendly wicket.
See Highlights from the Edgbaston Test from 23:22 in the video above.
With the tourists 104 in front the Windies came into bowl full of confidence knowing that a repeat of the first innings could see them wrap up the third Test inside three days. Graham Gooch was once again England’s talisman, but like the first innings he was the lone scorer as the top order failed around him.
Patrick Patterson, who was returning from injury tore through the England top order and Curtly Ambrose who continued terrorise Graeme Hick, this time sending him back to the pavilion after just 8 balls.
England were buoyed by a later Lewis and Pringle partnership for 92, but the host ended their innings with a scant lead of 121 and a almost inevitably looking down the barrel at defeat.
Phil DeFreitas and Graeme Hick made a great early start which gave England a glimmer of hope. However the tourists settled into a scoring rhythm with Viv Richards and Carl Hooper forming a 128partnership and knocking off the target score with 7 wickets to spare.
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) but please hurry as there is limited availability in most areas of the ground. Please click here or call the ticket hotline on 0844 847 1902.
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