Bridgetown: Part-time off-spinner Roston Chase took eight wickets as West Indies crushed England by 381 runs in the first Test. Chase seized his chance to shine in the absence of any specialist spinner in the team, picking up a Test-best 8/60.
West Indies, rank underdogs in the three-match series, bowled out England for 246 in the second innings after dismissing them for 77 in the first. They won with more than a day to spare in what can only be termed a shambolic display by the visitors, who were coming off a summer series win over No. 1 ranked India.
“Bitterly disappointed,” England captain Joe Root said. “We’re a far better side than we’ve played this week and we’ve got to keep remembering how well we have played of late.”
Chase’s extraordinary figures — better than Shane Warne’s Test best of 8/71 — were achieved even though he did not exact prodigious turn. He got just enough, however, to keep the batsmen on edge. Despite Chase’s heroics, West Indies captain Jason Holder was named Man of the Match after his unbeaten second innings knock of 202.
“Really good Test match for me personally. To come back the way I’ve come back I’m really pleased,” Holder, who missed the recent tour of Bangladesh due to a shoulder injury, said.
