OTD | West Indies won their first Test in England in 17 years in 2017

The 2nd Test match of the series between the West Indies tour of England in 2017 was played in Leeds. Going into the 2nd Test match of the series West Indies were already 1-0 in the three-match Test series, as England had won the first Test match by 209 runs and innings. As the second Test match started, the host nation England won the toss and elected to bat first. 

Batting first, England put on a big total of 258 runs in the first innings as England all-rounder Ben Stokes stood strong and scored 100 runs to help the team reach a good total. On the other hand, Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel took four wickets for West Indies. In reply to the first innings score, West Indies gave a tough fight as they posted 427 runs. While opener Kraigg Brathwaite scored 134 runs, Shai Hope scored 147 runs to help West Indies in the fight against England’s batting unit. 

As the second innings started, England changed gears and scored 490 runs before declaring the innings. Chasing a massive target of 322, West Indies got a good start from Kraigg Brathwaite as he scored 95 runs before getting out to Moeen Ali, while Shai Hope took charge and delivered his best innings, scoring 118 runs and remained not out. Shai Hope became a symbol of hope for West Indian Test cricket in that match. 

Hope was astounded to learn that he had become the first player to get a century in both innings of any match at Leeds in 118 years of first-class cricket, but he was far more worried about what the outcome meant for long-suffering fans back home. This resulted in West Indies winning the second Test match by 5 wickets. By winning the second Test match West Indies leveled the three-match series by 1-1. This was their first Test match in England after 17 years. 

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