[Watch] Gus Atkinson knocks over Alzarri Joseph with a ripper on Day 4 of ENG vs WI 2nd Test
England fast bowler Gus Atkinson cleaned up West Indies lower-order batter Alzarri Joseph with an excellent delivery on Day 4 of the second Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Sunday, July 21. Joseph (1) was the eighth wicket to fall as the West Indies slumped to 113-8 after being set to chase 385. They were eventually bowled out for 143 as England won the Test by 241 runs.
After England put 425 in their second innings on the back of hundreds from Joe Root (102) and Harry Brook (109), West Indies got off to a defiant start in their big chase. However, once the opening stand of 61 between skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (47) and Mikyle Louis (17) was broken, they slipped rather swiftly.
Joseph was dismissed in the 32nd over of West Indies' second innings, knocked over by a ripper from Atkinson. The England fast bowler got one to skid in from a length and breached the Windies batter's defense. Joseph was almost on his knees after missing his stroke, completely flummoxed by the one that came in.
Before sending back Joseph, Atkinson also dismissed keeper-batter Joshua Da Silva (14), trapping him leg before with length ball outside off that jagged back in. The West Indies batter looked to hit the ball across the line, but completely missed the delivery and was caught right in front of the stumps.
Young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was the bowling star for England on Day 4 of the Trent Bridge Test. He claimed 5-41 in 11.1 overs to bowl the hosts to a series win with one match to spare. Bashir got the wickets of Kirk McKenzie (1), Kavem Hodge (0) and Alick Athanaze (1) before dismissing Jason Holder (37) and last man Shamar Joseph (8).
The England pacers also did an impressive job in the team's comprehensive 241-run triumph. Apart from Atkinson, Chris Woakes also picked up two wickets, while the fiery Mark Wood chipped in with one scalp.
Gus Atkinson made a sensational Test debut at Lord's
While Atkinson played a good supporting role in the Trent Bridge Test, he made an exceptional debut in the first Test at Lord's, which was also James Anderson's farewell game. The 26-year-old right-arm pacer registered figures of 7-45 in the first innings and followed it up 5-61 in the second.
The England fast bowler was named Player of the Match for his brilliant effort on Test debut. Apart from featuring in two Tests, the Middlesex-born cricketer has played nine ODIs and three T20Is, claiming 11 and six wickets, respectively.