England captain Ben Stokes made history with the fastest Test half-century for England, leading his team to a decisive victory over the West Indies and securing a 3-0 series whitewash at Edgbaston.
On Sunday, Stokes achieved a 24-ball half-century as England chased down a target of 82 runs in just 7.2 overs. This win sealed a comprehensive 3-0 series victory for England in Birmingham.
The match was competitive heading into day four, but a stellar bowling performance by Mark Wood, who took five wickets for 40 runs, restricted the West Indies to 175 runs. Wood’s spell, where he conceded just nine runs while taking all five wickets, was pivotal.
Chasing 82, Stokes (57* off 28 balls with nine fours and two sixes) opened the innings with Ben Duckett (25* off 16 balls with four boundaries). Stokes aggressively began the innings, hitting two fours off Alzarri Joseph and adding another two off Jayden Seales. His rapid half-century came off just 24 balls, making it the fastest by an Englishman and the joint-third fastest in Test cricket history. Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record for the fastest fifty in Tests, scoring off 21 balls against Australia in 2014.
In the first innings, the West Indies won the toss and chose to bat. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite scored 61, supported by Jason Holder’s 59 and Joshua Da Silva’s 49, helping the West Indies reach 282 all-out. For England, Gus Atkinson (4/67) and Chris Woakes (3/69) were standout bowlers.
England struggled initially, but a crucial 115-run partnership between Joe Root (87 off 124 balls) and Stokes (54 off 69 balls) steadied the innings. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (95 off 109 balls) and all-rounder Woakes (62 off 78 balls) helped England surpass the West Indies’ total, ending at 376 all-out with a 94-run lead. Alzarri Joseph (4/122) was the pick of the bowlers for the West Indies.
In their second innings, the West Indies offered little resistance. Mikyle Louis (57 off 95 balls) and Kavem Hodge (55 off 76 balls) contributed half-centuries, but the team was all out for 175, setting England an 82-run target.
(With ANI Inputs)
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