Nkrumah Bonner (38 not out off 138 balls) and Jason Holder (37 runs off 101 balls) exhibited solid batting skills to earn a crucial draw against the England team led by Joe Root in the first Test match of the series. Bonner and Holder registered a solid 80-run partnership, spanning 34.4 overs to eventually secure a draw in the first Test match.
Root's bold declaration
Previously, Joe Root had declared their second innings scoring 349 runs losing 6 wickets, on Day 5 and set up a target of 286 runs for the hosts, in a minimum of 71 overs.
The decision seemed to have paid off as West Indies lost their first four wickets within a span of just 8 runs. England spinner Jack Leach bowled brilliantly to claim three wickets in the second innings. West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (33 runs off 82 balls) and John Campbell (22 runs off 73 balls) started their side’s batting on a positive note in the second innings but a terrifying middle order collapse suddenly gave the visitors a chance to claim victory in the first Test match.
Solid partnership
But things eventually did not turn out to be in England's favour as Bonner and Holder performed resolutely to thwart the English team.
Bonner’s terrific batting show earned him the Man of the Match award as well. In the first innings the 33-year-old West Indies batter had scored 123 runs to help his side in reaching a good total of 375 runs.
For England, their all-rounder Ben Stokes picked up one wicket in the second innings.
"I'm really pleased with the way we played, especially given the position we were in after that first hour," Root had said after the match.
"The guys stayed calm and showed great maturity to get us to a total, especially off the back of a difficult winter and a difficult year where we've not scored anywhere near enough runs.
"The way the guys stuck at it, especially having one bowler down as well, showed a huge amount of character and it was a huge step forward in many respects. No-one stopped believing or gave up all day. We really did give ourselves the best chance of winning this game,” the England skipper explained.
The two teams will take on each other in the second Test match of the three-match Test series, on March 16.
