North Sound – West Indies were 44 without loss, replying to England’s first innings total of 311, at lunch on the seccond day of the first Test on Wednesday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.
At the interval, Windies captain Kraigg Brathwaite was not out on 29 and left-handed opener John Campbell was not out on 14 after the young pace duo of Jayden Seales and Alzarri Joseph equally shared the last four English wickets.
Seales was the most successful bowler for the Caribbean side, ending with 4-79 from 22 overs, and Joseph finished with 2-70 from 20.3 overs after the visitors continued from their overnight total of 268 for six and were bowled out about 40 minutes before lunch.
Seales, 20, struck twice in the seventh over of the morning when he got Chris Woakes caught behind for 28, gloving a rising ball, and Craig Overton caught at forward short leg for a second-ball duck, turning another rising delivery, before England reached 300.
Joseph struck in successive overs after the English passed 300 to bring the innings to a close when he got Mark Wood caught at point for one from a miscued hook and the visitors’ batting hero, Jonny Bairstow caught in similar fashion for the top score of 140.
Bairstow batted for almost 6 1/2 hours, faced 259 balls and struck 21 fours to rescue England from the depths of 48 for four the previous day.
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 44 without loss (Kraigg Brathwaite 29 not out, John Campbell 14 not out).
(AR)