Calcutta/ Bridgetown: West Indies defied the odds and a wearing pitch to complete a series-levelling five-wicket victory over England on the Day III of the third and final Test.
Owing to the result, England have slipped one place to fourth in the ICC Test rankings, on Monday.
[A day after England's disastrous Test loss, England batsman Jonathan Trott retired from international cricket.
"This was a tough decision, but I don't feel my game is at the level needed to play for England," Trott was quoted as saying in an ECB statement. "I was honoured to come back and play international cricket again and I'm disappointed it didn't work out."]
Set a target of 192 after the visitors were dismissed for 123 in their second innings, a 108-run fifth-wicket partnership between Darren Bravo and Jermaine Blackwood tilted the match decisively in West Indies' way on Sunday. That allowed them to celebrate their first victory over England since the opening Test of the 2009 series at the Sabina Park.
Bravo's controlled knock of 82, his 11th Test half-century, ended when he attempted to hit the winning shot off Ben Stokes as Stuart Broad took the catch at mid-off. It was left to Blackwood to finish off the match in the next over, hoisting Moeen Ali over long-on to finish unbeaten on 47 and complete a team and personal triumph following his first innings top score of 85 out of a total of 189.
Blackwood was named Man of the Match. "I always try to play my natural game, but you have to be mindful of the situation as well," said Blackwood.
"Darren told me to just be positive and we would be able to bring it home."
West Indies seemed on the verge of another capitulation when veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul played on to James Anderson without scoring to leave the home side uncomfortably placed at 80 for four just after tea.
Anderson took the Man of the Series honours for his 17 wickets in three matches, lifting his overall Test tally to 397.
"It's disappointing, but they chased down that target very well," Anderson said.
Blackwood, who came following Chanderpaul's dismissal, capitalised on a significant moment of luck - a missed stumping by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler off Joe Root when he was only on four - to stay with his senior partner.
