England Outpaces West Indies in High-Stakes Test Battle: Final Scorecard Tells the Full Story

The Test match between England and the West Indies concluded with a decisive win for England, secured through disciplined bowling, resilient batting, and pivotal contributions across all phases of play. With a final score of 376/7 in reply to England’s 412/9 at once, the West Indies fell short by 36 runs, marking a gritty but ultimately unsuccessful campaign on home soil. The match unfolded as a battle of control versus creative pressure, with England leveraging pace attacks and steady precision to build a commanding innings.

Standing at 412/9 after 56 overs under the relentless west, the West Indies team struggled to maintain momentum in the subsequent sessions, particularly during the final day when England’s bowlers held the score well and exploited pockets of weakness with consistent line-and-length bowling.

England’s batting dominance was evident across all innings, with key partnerships and individual rushes driving the total home. Opening the batting, Ben Stokes carved an unbeaten 89, anchoring the innings before Joe Beer and Will Fitzgerald continued the momentum, especially on day three.

Fitzgerald’s unbeaten 117 in an open-innings partnership set the tone, combining internal pressure with piece settlement. The bowlers—lichely spearheaded by Ryan ten Haske and Marcus Stoinis—exerted relentless pressure, limiting West Indies to just 26 in the second innings, a figure that underscored England’s run-defensive superiority.

The West Indies’ Tight Innings and Lost Opportunities

West Indies sidestepped an early collapse but failed to capitalize on key chances throughout the match. After posting 412/9, the team managed 338/6 in their second innings—nearly 74 runs below the target—hindered by unforced errors, inconsistent shot selection, and an inability to rotate strike effectively against England’s closing bowlers.

“They kept us underestimating their pace,” said West Indies skipper Andre Russell post-match, reflecting on a performance marred by critical lapses. “We had multiple matches but couldn’t finish. England’s fielding and select depth made all the difference.” The team’s inability to build a follow-on, coupled with stifling control in the second half, left gaps that England exploited with surgical precision.

On the bowling front, England’s attack dominated across conditions. James Anderson, though not prolific on this day, contributed crucial contained shifts, while Aaron Finch pressed deeply to restrict scoring, averaging 28.33 over his ten overs. The pace trio—Ten Haske, Tyler Dilnot, and Stoinis—combined for 32 wickets for 132 runs, demonstrating precision and stamina.

Key Match Moments That Decided the Outcome

From the outset, England established early control.

David Miller’s method bowls disappointed fast in the middle, allowing two teams to settle. Miller dismissed Stuart Broad early to short-pitched work, a signal of the bowlers’ intent to dominate high on the pitch. Then, in the third day, a six from Murphy Idris set up a balance, but West Indies failed to chase intent, instead allowing England to construct 111 defensively with clinical unity.

A pivotal moment came on the final day when England’s tail bowlers tightened pressure. Martin Talbert’s concentrated spell took three wickets in eight overs, while Finch dismantled the upper order with turning deliveries. Russell noted, “That tight spell session turned the tide—not just through wickets, but in rhythm.

It crumbled West Indies’ composure.” The 94-run partnership between Stokes and Beer broke the drought early, followed by Beer and Fitzgerald’s 102, which kept momentum alive. In an upset, Kane Richardson’s late conserve (17) kept ownership alive until the close at 361, setting the stage for a decisive final day. England finished securely, with 332/6 after 50.4 overs, proving their capacity to win under pressure.