Cricket News : WI beat England by 4 wickets to take 1-0 lead

West Indies beat England by 4 wickets in the 1st test match played at Ageas Bowl in Southampton to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Chasing 200 for victory, the West Indies were tottering at 27/3 before Roston Chase and Jermaine Blackwood shared a match-winning 73-run stand for the 5th wicket to steady the ship and set them on course for a famous win which took place in front of empty stands. The 5th day belonged to Blackwood who first negotiated the barrage of bouncers well and also kept a cool head on his shoulders to emerge as the unlikely hero scoring 95. Pace bowler Shannon Gabriel who was bumped into the main Test squad after being in the reserves due to his ankle injury returned figures of 4/62 and 5/75 with his 2nd innings spell wreaking havoc in the England ranks. Gabriel was adjudged man of the match for his superlative performance with the ball.