Windies bowlers struggle as England fight back on day three of final Test

Sport

6 minutes ago

Despite West Indies’ positive start to the third and final Test match against England, the claret bowlers struggled on day three as the hosts recovered to take control in Birmingham on July 27.

After West Indies made a first innings score of 282, England ended the second day’s play at a shaky 38/3.

However, on the third day, the middle and lower order batsmen performed superbly, helping the Three Lions reduce the order to 376 runs; a lead of 94 runs.

At the end of the third day’s play, West Indies lost two key batters in the evening session – captain Kraigg Brathwaite (duck) and Kirk McKenzie (eight) – and began the fourth day’s play on 28 July 61 runs behind with two days remaining.

When England resumed at 38/2, West Indians looked confident. But game-changing knocks from wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (95), Joe Root (85), Chris Woakes (62) and skipper Ben Stokes (54) turned things around.

They were eventually dismissed for a fine 376 from 75.4 overs, with fast bowlers Alzarri Joseph (4/122), Jayden Seales (3/79) and Shamar Joseph (2/63) doing the damage.

Trailing by 94 runs at the start of the second innings, captain and opener Brathwaite failed to lead by example and soon dealt the team a setback when he was bowled by Woakes on the last ball of the first over without scoring.

McKenzie was dismissed five overs later when he was caught behind Smith by Gus Atkinson’s pacer. Mikyle Louis (18 not out) and Alick Athanaze (five not out) finished the third day on 33/2, 61 behind England’s first innings score.

Play will resume at 6:00am (TT time).

WEST INDIES 282 (75.1) – Kraigg Brathwaite 61, Jason Holder 59, Joshua Da Silva 49, Mikyle Louis 26; Gus Atkinson 4/67, Chris Woakes 3/69, Mark Wood 2/52 & Mikyle Louis 18 not out, Click Athanaze 5 not out vs ENGLAND 376 (75.4) – Jamie Smith 95, Joe Root 87, Chris Woakes 62, Ben Stokes 54; Alzarri Joseph 4/122, Jayden Seales 3/79, Shamar Joseph 2/63