England continued to dominate in decisive Test- England vs West Indies, Test 3, Day 2
England started the day on 262-4 with Pope on 91 and Buttler on 52.
The West Indies bowled well in the early parts of the morning. They were bowling along a probing line and length resulting in a couple of lbw shouts. The West Indies saw the chance of wickets fall by the wayside. Cornwall dropped an easy chance which saw Olly Pope survive a scare.
Gabriel soon got the wicket he was searching for. Pope was bowled out without scoring a run on day two. The chance of a century ended for Pope as he was out for 91.
The West Indies soon had their second wicket of the session with the departure of Chris Woakes. The Warwickshire man was bowled by Roach for 1.
Buttler lost his wicket moments later. He edged a Gabriel delivery which was caught by captain Jason Holder for 67. Archer was out in the same fashions except off the bowling of Roach for 3.
Broad and Bess were then tasked with getting England’s first innings score above 300. Broad began to accelerate England’s run rate and began to attack the West Indian bowling attack.
Broad who throughout his career has shown glimpses of good batting talent took firm control through consistently finding the boundary. Broad’s attacking approach took him to a 50-run partnership with Bess and then onto a half century himself. The Nottinghamshire bower’s half century was the third quickest is English cricket history.
Broad was eventually caught out sweeping spinner Roston Chase. Broads brilliant innings of 62 that saw England surpass 350 came to an end.
Anderson and Bess slowly added to the total, but Anderson’s soon fell to the bowling of Holder. Anderson’s wicket signalled lunch. England entered lunch with a total of 369 which seemed a very distant target after the flurry of wickets early in the morning session.
The West Indies opened their innings after lunch with England’s tried and tested new ball bowlers opening the bowling.
Broad and Anderson took the new ball and looked to challenge the opening batsman the swing of the new ball.
Broad struck early. He caught the outside edge of Braithwaite’s bat who was subsequently caught by Root. The wicket of the dangerous Braithwaite got England off to the best possible start.
Campbell was then dropped by Stokes off the bowling of Anderson. Campbell didn’t cause too much damage to England. Archer bowled a quick bouncer that hit the splice of Campbell’s bat and was caught by Burns. Campbell was out for 32.
Hope fell shortly after a delivery from Anderson caught the edge of Hope’s bat and be feathered it through to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler
The West Indies then lost a second wicket for 1 run when Anderson once again found the edge of a West Indian batsman. Brooks got an inside edge and was caught once again by Buttler for 4.
The West Indies managed to steady the ship. Broad broke the growing partnership between the West Indian pair. The ball crashed into Roston Chase’s pads who was given out lbw for 9.
The West Indies passed 100 in their first innings but shortly after they did, Chris Woakes removed the middle stump of Blackwood. Blackwood played well for 26 and had played well throughout the series. His wicket was a big wicket for England as they looked to restrict the West Indies first innings total.
Blackwood would be the last wicket to fall on day 2 of the decisive Test. Just like the first day of the Test the umpires called an early end to the day due to bad light. The West Indies finished the day on 137-6.
This was very much England’s day; they were able to accelerate and increase their lead. The hosts then took control with the ball, then bowled the right lengths and were able to constrict West Indian partnerships. England also took key wickets at key moments in the game. The experienced bowling attack of Broad and Anderson provided control and a wicket taking threat throughout their bowling spells.
England will look to continue their good work from day two and whittle out the West Indies tail for little to nothing and press on for the victory.
