West Indies scraped a first-innings lead of 28 runs against England on the second day of their series-deciding third Test in Grenada on Friday.
WI subordination frustrates England as crucial Test ties (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- West Indies scraped out a first-innings lead of 28 runs
- Joshua da Silva led the West Indies’ innings on Day 2
- West Indies were 232 for 8 at stumps in response to England’s 204
West Indies passed England’s first innings total on Friday to take a 28-run lead on day two of the series-winning Test in Grenada. Joshua da Silva anchored the West Indies’ recovery from 128/7 in response to England’s opening 204.
Thanks to an unbroken 55-run partnership between Da Silva (54) and Kemar Roach (25), which matches a 49-run streak between Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph (28).
Both teams have seemingly slammed wickets at will with the shiny new ball but struggled when the ball went soft and lost power around the 40th, prompting early intervention on a pitch that had much more to offer in the morning, made absolutely necessary.
Joshua Da Silva led the Battle of the West Indies.
After two fascinating days, the series decision-maker is left in the balance.#WTC23 | #WIvENGhttps://t.co/wi1uwqRzIJ
— ICC (@ICC) March 25, 2022
“The wicket as we’ve seen today goes through phases where it goes a little bit, but when it doesn’t you can get runs,” said England’s opening bowler Chris Woakes, who overcame a poor start to take 3 /48 fetched.
“There were still moments where it showed a bit of erratic bounce. I think it played better as the ball softened.”
Da Silva came in when West Indies were in trouble at 95/6. England squandered fresh ball early in the day and West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell had no problems in the opening hour.
But she and Shamarh Brooks had gone to lunch as the soft ball was more to England’s liking. Brathwaite and Brooks were trapped and Campbell, not long after being smacked on his helmet by Craig Overton, was out against the same bowler after a check in England revealed he was wearing a glove on the side of his leg.
After lunch, Bonner survived the levy thanks to an inspection, but the damage was minimal. He was out for 4 against Chris Woakes, who was then handed a second wicket for a duck by Jason Holder.
That doubled the number of wickets for Woakes, who was criticized for his lack of penetration with the new ball in the absence of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Woakes even got the third wicket in boxing Jermaine Blackwood. Overton and Stokes also had two each.
