Alzarri Joseph, the 22-year-old West Indian paceman, rallied through the grief of his mother’s passing to help steer his team to a series-clinching 10-wicket win, making him a well-deserved pick for Saturday’s Play of the Day, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.
The young fast bowler was monumental with the ball and in the field for West Indies on day three in Antigua following the devastating news of his mother’s passing early on Saturday morning.
A remarkably brave young man.
Alzarri Joseph, whose mother Sharon died earlier today, will continue to play in the Antigua Test. #WIvENG live text: https://t.co/TPRM4FW3Qo pic.twitter.com/Rf80Ody6Qt
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 2, 2019
His heroic efforts led to the home team romping to another thumping victory over England in the second Test match against the much higher ranked visitors. The win guarantees the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series to give the West Indies a shock series victory that few would have predicted.
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Joseph was met with an appreciative standing ovation from the home crowd when he walked out with the bat in the morning session. He contributed seven runs with the bat before sparkling with the ball. His 2-12 in seven overs sparked the now all-too-familiar English batting collapse in their second innings.
#WIvENG Met by a standing ovation, Alzarri Joseph has chosen to bat for the West Indies and for the memory of his mother Sharon. ? #RallyForAlzarri #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/QlOCxwHUw1
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) February 2, 2019
Joseph then grabbed a brilliant forward-diving catch after Jimmy Anderson chipped a delivery from Jason Holder (4-43) near the young fast bowler at mid-on. England could only manage 132 runs in their second innings before being bowled out within 43 overs – setting West Indies a target of 14 runs for the win.
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Openers Kraigg Brathwaite (5) and John Campbell (11) made light work of the chase as Campbell smashed a stunning six over the mid-wicket boundary to secure the win – and with it the series – with true West Indian flare.
England will look to salvage some pride with a win in the final Test match of the series in St Lucia and avoid getting whitewashed by the pre-series underdogs.
Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
