North Sound – West Indies were 322 for seven in their first innings and had an 11-run lead at tea on the third day of the first Test on Thursday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.
At the interval, Nkrumah Bonner was not out on 98, eyeing his second Test hundred, and Kemar Roach was not out on 15 and have put on 40 – unbroken – for the eighth wicket.
The Windies lost two wickets in the second period of play for the day after they continued from their lunchtime total of 271 for five, in reply to England’s first innings total of 311.
Joshua da Silva was lbw to Jack Leach for 32, adding only four to his lunch score, before he played back and across to a delivery of no real merit and unsuccessfully reviewed umpire Joel Wilson’s decision, with ball-tracking technology upholding the verdict.
Da Silva put on 73 for the sixth wicket with Bonner, but the example of resilience was lost on Alzarri Joseph and he was caught at deep fine leg off pacer Craig Overton for two in the next over from a miscued hook.
The Caribbean side were still 29 in the red when Joseph departed, but Roach came to the crease and put his head down.
He formally put the hosts in the lead when he drove the uncomplicated off-spin of England captain Joe Root through cover for the first of two successive boundaries in the third-last over before the break.
Bonner swept Root to the deep fine leg boundary for the eighth four in his 255-ball innings to reach within two of triple figures in the final over the break.
Ben Stokes has been the pick of the England bowlers taking 2-36 from 19 overs and Craig Overton has taken 2-76 from 27 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).
WEST INDIES 322 for seven (Nkrumah Bonner 98 not out, Kraigg Brathwaite 55, Jason Holder 45, John Campbell 35, Joshua da Silva 32, Shamarh Brooks 18, Kemar Roach 15 not out, Jermaine Blackwood 11; Ben Stokes 2-36, Craig Overton 2-76).
(AR)