After resuming 107 ahead, at 39-5, at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, England were bowled out for 123, leaving the hosts with a target of 192. At one stage, they were 80-4 before Darren Bravo and Jermaine Blackwood shared 108.
Bravo striking three sixes in a magnificent 82 and Blackwood 47 not out as the Windies beat England for only the second time in 29 Tests.
The match, in Bridgetown, had fluctuated for much of the three days but the Windies were able to regain a share of the Wisden Trophy with relative ease as the England side tired.
The Windies, who had lost their previous two series in England, completed a famous victory under the floodlights with the result being a huge tick for Phil Simmons at the end of his first series in charge. It is only six months since West Indies pulled out of the tour of India, which was followed by a poor World Cup (although better than England's). History tells us that problems are often not far away but, barring the final day in Grenada, the fight they have shown in this series offers some hope.
The victorious coach said: "I can’t say about what it means for West Indies cricket in general but I know for the Test team it’s huge because the guys have worked hard for the last four weeks,” Simmons told a post-match media conference on Sunday.
To have played so well in Antigua and Grenada and not come out with anything, you saw the determination of the guys - especially the bowlers - to come out of this with something so it’s huge for us.”
He added: “That’s the biggest thing I can take from it that everybody showed character because for the bowlers to bowl out England for such a low score in the second innings, just shows massive character coming out at this early stage of my tenure so it’s great for me to see.”
The West Indies came in for criticism before the series, with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chair Colin Graves describing the Caribbean side as “mediocre” and saying he expected England to easily win the contest.
Simmons, a former Test player, said the team had not taken on the criticism and noted the victory now sent a strong signal to the critics.
“Let him decide that (mediocre comment) now, I’ll leave that for him to judge,” Simmons quipped.
“I think when he’s walking out he’ll see a few signs going out there with the meaning of it so I’ll leave that for him.”
After a wretched World Cup campaign for England, when failed to progress beyond the initial group stages, this defeat is likely to leave the coaching staff with some difficult questions to answer from the hierarchy at the England and Wales Cricket Board.
