With rain abandoning the entire Day 3, West Indies' task to try and draw the second Test against England and retain the Wisden Trophy in UK had been made easier.
However, the visitors disappointingly collapsed twice for 287 and 198 in response to hosts' 469/9 and 129/3 (declared in both innings) and handed them a series-levelling victory in Manchester.
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West Indies once found itself 242/4 on Day 4, needing to bat another two sessions to safety. But then it lost a flurry of wickets to the second new ball in the first innings and collapsed badly in the final essay, with the surface offering uneven bounce and some turn to the bowlers.
Interestingly after the result at the Old Trafford, Mumbai batsman Surya Kumar Yadav revealed a conversation he had with Sachin Tendulkar, where the legendary India batsman had predicted the Test match exactly the way it eventually panned out.
Tendulkar, as per the tweet from Surya, had predicted that England will put up a target around 300 (312) and feared that West Indies may not find survival so easy in difficult conditions.
"Was having a chat with @sachin_rt Paaji this morning about the #ENGvWI match & he said that this Test isn’t over & felt England was likely to win and that they’ll set a target of 300," tweeted Surya. "If the Windies have to save this game they would have to really apply themselves!"
Having foreseen it all accurately, Tendulkar modestly replied: "Sometimes I get it right!"
England's recovery in the series after going down in Southampton was set-up by contrasting but effective hundreds from Dom Sibley (120) and Ben Stokes (176). West Indies did bowl well in parts, but it needed a decisive performance after opting to not bat first.
In response, the visitors had Kraigg Brathwaite (75), Shamarh Brooks (68) and Roston Chase (51) making half-centuries, which allowed them to escape the follow-on, but nobody kicked on to play the big innings that would've led to a draw.
Stuart Broad (3/66), Chris Woakes (3/42) and Sam Curran (2/70) bowled really well, especially after the second new ball was taken.
Stokes' quickfire 78 not out set-up the declaration in the third innings.
Similar theme with the bat followed for the Calypso Kings on the final day, as they failed to counter the opening burst from Broad (3/42) and Woakes (2/34) and never recovered.
Only Brooks (62), Jermaine Blackwood (55) and skipper Jason Holder (35) showed some resistance.
The final Test of the three-match series will be played from July 24 in Manchester.
