North Sound – England were 72 for one in their second innings against West Indies at lunch on the fourth day of the first Test on Friday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua, for a lead of eight.
At the interval, Zak Crawley was not out on 45 and England captain Joe Root was not out on 20 after the Windies were bowled out for 375 in their first innings – a lead of 64 – inside the first 15 minutes.
Long-standing pacer Kemar Roach made the breakthrough for the Caribbean side before lunch when he trapped Alex Lees lbw for six with a delivery angled into the left-handed opener from around the wicket.
West Indies were, however, unable to make any further breakthroughs before the interval, and Crawley and Root pounced on loose bowling and helped the English to erase the deficit.
Earlier, the Windies, starting the day on 373 for nine, extended their innings only three balls before left-arm spinner Jack Leach got Jayden Seales lbw for a duck to bring the innings to a close.
Leach ended with 2-79 from 43.3 overs.
Summarised scores:
ENGLAND 311 (Jonny Bairstow 140, Ben Foakes 42, Ben Stokes 36, Chris Woakes 28, Dan Lawerence 20, Joe Root 13; Jayden Seales 4-79, Jason Holder 2-24, Alzarri Joseph 2-70, Kemar Roach 2-6) and 72 for one(Zak Crawley 45 not out, Joe Root 20 not out).
WEST INDIES 375 (Nkrumah Bonner 123, Kraigg Brathwaite 55, Jason Holder 45, John Campbell 35, Joshua da Silva 32, Veerasammy Permaul 26 not out, Shamarh Brooks 18, Kemar Roach 15, Jermaine Blackwood 11; Ben Stokes 2-42, Craig Overton 2-85).
(AR)