Shoaib Bashir, the young England off-spinner, emerged as the hero on Day 4 of the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge. His match-winning bowling performance, coupled with a flamboyant celebration inspired by footballer Cole Palmer, secured a dominant 241-run victory for the home side and a 2-0 series win.

Shoaib Bashir mimics Cole Palmer‘s celebration after scalping Alick Athanaze

Bashir’s dismissal of Alick Athanaze in the Windies’ second innings perfectly encapsulated his day. The commentary team described the delivery: “Drift, dip, turn, edge!” Athanaze, enticed by the flight and subtle turn, could only manage a faint nick that snicked past the diving wicket-keeper, beautifully pouched by Joe Root at first slip. This dismissal, his fifth of the innings, brought a roar from the Trent Bridge crowd and a unique celebration from the bowler.

Bashir mimicked the trendy “cold” celebration popularized by the Manchester City midfielder. He shivered dramatically, feigning chills, as his teammates mobbed him. The light-hearted moment showcased the growing camaraderie within the England squad and Bashir’s comfort on the big stage.

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Here’s the video:

Dominant England batting sets up a commendable win

Earlier in the day, England resumed their second innings in a strong position of 248/3. Centuries from Root (122) and Harry Brook (109) further bolstered the lead, taking the hosts to a formidable 425 all-out. West Indies, chasing a mammoth 385 for victory, never looked truly comfortable. Kraigg Brathwaite offered some resistance with a gritty 47, but Bashir’s probing off-spin proved too much to handle.

His 5/41 spell ripped through the Windy’s batting order, dismissing key batters like Shai Hope and Jason Holder cheaply. Prior to Bashir’s heroics, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood had provided early inroads into the Windies batting line-up. Woakes picked up four wickets, and his experience proved invaluable. Wood, with his raw pace, kept the Windies batters on their toes, picking up a crucial wicket of dangerman Kyle Mayers.

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