England Build a Useful Lead- England vs West Indies, Test 1, Day 4
England’s opening pair started the day well and made a substantial dent in the West Indies lead.
Sibley and Burns battled through the new ball, to 72-0. Burns then softly gave away his wicket to Chase. A short wide ball saw Burns softly chip the ball to point. Out for 42, Burns was unable to capitalise on a good start in his innings.
England continued to slowly work towards a lead of their own. Joe Denly survived a scare, he played the ball onto his own wickets, but bowler Shannon Gabriel was deemed to have bowled a no ball. However, Sibley was not so lucky. In the same over as Denly’s scare, Sibley flirted with a ball down the leg side and was out caught behind. The Warwickshire opener failed to capitalise after he reached his half-century.
England managed to surpass the West Indies total and began to amass a good lead of their own through the growing partnership of Ben Stokes and Zak Crawley. The West Indies desperately needed to break this partnership. Their captain Jason Holders managed to do so; he found the outside edge of Stokes. Stokes was dismissed for 46 with England’s lead at 135.
They soon got another breakthrough when Crawley was caught and bowled off the bowling of Anzarri Joseph. Crawley departed on 76 after a much needed and well deserved half century.
England survived a scare as Jos Buttler reviewed a decision which saw him given out lbw. The ball was going over the stumps and down the leg side.
England appeared to be in the midst of a mid-order collapse when Jos Buttler was bowled moments after his lbw scare. Joseph took the wicket of Buttler, who departed for only 9.
Another England wicket fell near the end of play. Dom Bess was bowled for just 3 runs. England who were in a promising position in the afternoon now looked in a fragile position.
This was a day that ebbed and flowed. A day that day both teams control portions of the day. England chased down the total set by the West Indies and began to amass a lead of their own in the second innings. They seemed to be in firm control, but the West Indies bowling attack fought back and forced a mid-order collapse of the England batting line-up. The day ended with England on 284-8, with a lead of 170. For this test match to end in a victory for either side, the morning sessions will be crucial. England will need to push on and increase their lead before looking to bowl the West Indies out. Whereas the West Indies will need to get the remaining batsman out cheaply in order to stand a chance for victory.
