On Wednesday, the West Indies were 127/4 at tea after England bowlers divided the wickets (March 9). West Indies are 184 runs behind. After an 83-run opening stand, England retaliated with quick wickets, reducing the West Indies to 127/4 before weather forced an early end to Day 2’s middle session.
England bowlers bounce back
The West Indies bowled England out for 311 in the first session of Day 2, and their openers got the team off to a fantastic start. Yet they lost wickets in short succession when England’s bowlers struck back.
The new ball swung around a lot, but Woakes and Overton were inconsistent in their hitting, allowing the West Indies openers to get off to a fast start. Kraigg Brathwaite smashed seven boundaries in ten overs, attacking from the start and making the most of the pacers’ sloppy bowling.
After lunch, though, John Campbell was strangled for 35 minutes down the leg-side to end the initial stand.
Soon after, Kraigg Brathwaite reached his 24th Test half-century. But he was bowled by Mark Wood with an edge. Shamarh Brooks was knocked out, but Jermaine Blackwood was saved by Foakes’ one-handed dive.
He couldn’t take advantage of the fact that it was right on the cusp of Tea and before the session was cut short due to rain.
England’s struggle to get back in the game
After being reduced to 48/4, England managed to climb to 311 owing in major part to Jonny Bairstow’s magnificent century, which saved his side’s blushes.
They got rid of England’s lower order rather swiftly after breaking the Bairstow-Chris Woakes stand, which cost them 71 runs. Seales finished with a four-fer.
Bairstow was dismissed for 140 runs after batting for half of the first session to keep England in the game. As the West Indies stormed back with wickets in the morning session, he battled 259 balls to save England.
Jason Holder put up a tremendous effort to close out the innings. Bairstow tried to slug a long delivery through midwicket, but all he got was a thick leading edge, which Holder grabbed after sprinting back.
England vs West Indies brief scores
Brief scores: England 311 (Jonny Bairstow 140, Ben Foakes 42, Chris Woakes 28; Jayden Seales 4-79) lead West Indies127/4 (Kraigg Brathwaite 55, John Campbell 35) by 184 runs.
