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Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Broad grabs 500th wicket as England defeat West Indies

Cricket - Third Test - England v West Indies - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - July 28, 2020 England's Stuart Broad celebrates taking his 500th test wicket with the wicket of West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Rickett/Pool via REUTERS

Stuart Broad grabbed his 500th test wicket to set England on their way to a resounding 269 run win over West Indies in the third and final test at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Broad joined an elite club, finishing with match figures of 10-67, as the West Indies were bowled out for 129 runs in between several rain delays in Manchester.

England won the first test series since the COVID-19 pandemic 2-1 and will almost immediately go into another three-match test series against Pakistan, starting next week.

Cricket - Third Test - England v West Indies - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - July 28, 2020 England's Chris Woakes celebrates taking the wicket of West Indies' Rakheem Cornwall lbw, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Rickett/Pool via REUTERS

West Indies were always up against it after being set an improbably 399 to win and losing the first two wickets of their second innings to Broad on Sunday, where they were 10-2 at the close.

Monday's play was washed out but Broad did not take long to continue his heroics on Tuesday as he trapped Kraigg Brathwaite leg before wicket for 19.

"It was very special to have got (500 wickets) and even more so to help win a test that helps to win the series for us," Broad said.

Cricket - Third Test - England v West Indies - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - July 28, 2020 England's Stuart Broad celebrates taking his 500th test wicket with teammates after taking the wicket of West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Steele/Pool via REUTERS

The 34-year-old Broad had taken the last four wickets of West Indies' first innings and the first three of their second innings in a dominant performance capped by reaching the 500 wicket milestone – only the seventh test cricketer to do so.

Brathwaite was also the 500th test victim of James Anderson at Lord's three years ago, serving up a unique double for England's most successful bowling duo.

"What a stat that is," exclaimed Broad. "The stars had to be aligned for that to have happened."

Cricket - Third Test - England v West Indies - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - July 28, 2020 England's Stuart Broad celebrates taking his 500th test wicket with the wicket of West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Rickett/Pool via REUTERS

Anderson opened the bowling with Broad on Tuesday but it was Chris Woakes who took did the most damage, finishing with figures of 5-50.

He had Shai Hope caught for 31 by Broad after a wild swing which saw the ball go straight up into the air and Shamarh Brooks followed soon after as he got an inside edge and was caught behind.

After lunch, Roston Chase was run out for seven by Dom Bess as the tourists risked an unnecessary single and when captain Jason Holder was lbw to Woakes for 12, any suggestion of a resolute stand looked over.

Cricket - Third Test - England v West Indies - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - July 28, 2020 England's Dom Bess celebrates the wicket of West Indies' Roston Chase with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Rickett/Pool via REUTERS

Woakes' next two victims were also caught shuffling across the crease, with Shane Dowrich out for eight and Rahkeem Cornwall for two.

Fittingly it was Broad who secured victory as Jermaine Blackwood was caught behind for 23.

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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