North Sound – West Indies were four without loss in their second innings at lunch on the final day of the first Test against England on Saturday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua, after the visitors set them 286 to win.
At the interval, Windies captain Kraigg Brathwaite was not out on three and left-handed opener John Campbell was not out on one after the English declared their second innings on 349 for six about half-hour before lunch.
West Indies bowlers were able to benefit from the England’s decision to chase quick runs to extend their lead after starting the day on 217 for one and ahead by 153.
Alzarri Joseph ended with 3-78 from 23.2 overs and fellow pacer Kemar Roach finished with 2-53 from 19 overs.
The Windies bowling, however, was not the highlight of the morning – rather it was a 24th Test hundred from England captain Joe Root that broke several milestones and helped his side to force the pace of scoring.
Root made 109 that took him past the retired Kevin Pietersen into second on the list of century-makers for the English in Tests, with only former captain Sir Alastair Cook, on 33, ahead of him.
It was also Root’s 13th hundred in the post of England captain, taking him past Sir Alastair’s record of 12, but he was one of five wickets that the visitors conceded before the declaration when Joseph bowled him behind his legs.
The string of wickets for West Indies started when Holder bowled Zak Crawley for 121 in the fourth over of the day after the opener added only four to his overnight score, bringing to an end a game-changing second wicket stand of 201 with Root.
For the next hour, the Windies were on the back-foot when Dan Lawrence came to the crease and smashed four fours and one six in 37 at a run-a-ball in a stand of 70 with Root before he sliced a drive to backward point.
This period proved a purple patch for the hosts, as England lost Root, Ben Stokes caught at long-off to Roach for 13, and Ben Foakes bowled Joseph for one in the span of 10 balls after they had passed 300.
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 349 for six (Zak Crawley 121, Joe Root 109, Dan Lawrence 37, Chris Woakes 18 not out, Jonny Bairstow 15 not out, Ben Stokes 13; Alzarri Joseph 3-78, Kemar Roach 2-53).
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) and four without loss.
(AR)