England win series in style; thrash West Indies by 269 runs

MANCHESTER: Veteran seamer Stuart Broad was the cynosure of all eyes as he galloped into elite company and helped England thrash West Indies by 269 runs in the rain-affected fifth day of the third Test at Old Trafford on Tuesday. The win saw the hosts come from behind to win the three-match Test series 2-1.

It was poetic justice as Broad, who scored a breezy 67 in the first innings and snared 10 wickets including his 500th, forced Jermaine Blackwood into a flashy pull and edge the ball to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler for a caught behind to bring an end to the game.

It was Broad's first 10-wicket match haul since 2013. West Indies had won the first Best but England showed who's the boss on home turf by winning the next two in grand fashion.

The Windies were set a target of 399 and folded for 129 after England made 369 in the first essay riding on fifties from Ollie Pope (91), Buttler (67), Broad and Rory Burns (57). The tourists were shot out for 197 in their first innings with Broad returning with figures of 6/31.

The Windies, meanwhile, failed to alter the script as they kept losing wickets without much resistance.

Shai Hope (31) holed out to Broad off Chris Woakes while Shamarh Brooks (22) inside edged a Woakes delivery to Buttler for an easy caught behind.

Post Lunch, rain played hide and seek but could not stop England's march as none of the Windies batsmen had an answer to Woakes and Broad's bowling.

Brief Scores: England 369 & 226/2d (Burns 90, Root 68*; Holder 1/24) vs West Indies 197 & 129 (Hope 31, Woakes 5/50, Broad 4/36).IANS

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