Zac Crawley’s undefeated second Test century and an unbeaten 84 by captain Joe Root helped England secure 217 for one in their second innings on a rain-less fourth day of the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Friday. done.
After trailing by 64 runs at the start of the innings, the tourists ended the day with 153 and nine wickets in hand. They may entertain the idea of trying to force a win on the final day, although the gentle nature of the pitch suggests that a similar draw is almost inevitable.
Crowley’s unbeaten 117 at the top of the order was an innings of undeniable quality, whatever the circumstances.
Honest and elegant, the right-hander’s first three-figure Test innings in almost two years came off exactly 200 balls and was studded with 16 fours.
His second-wicket partnership with Root has realized 193 runs so far with the captain looking completely at ease without being over-aggressive.
He is destined to add to his tally of 23 Test centuries through an innings that has so far come off 158 balls in which he has hit six fours.
Crowley said, “Root has such a calm mind. He was just telling me to focus because he was bowling really well at times. He is such a calm person and I took a lot from him during the day . “
Despite the nature of the pitch and the anticipation of a final day’s stalemate, Crowley is hopeful of some unexpected play.
“It’s definitely still a good wicket. It didn’t break as much as we thought,” he admitted.
“But we are still hoping that it will break down enough tomorrow and give us a good chance to get them out.”
When Crowley lost opening partner Alex Lees cheaply to Kemar Roach before lunch for the second time in the match, the tourists must have been uncomfortable given the top-order weaknesses exposed in the first innings.
quiet pitch
Roach thought he had removed Crowley for a duck before Lee passed away as umpire Gregory Brathwaite ruled out a full-length delivery to the opener leg-before. However, the batsman immediately reviewed the decision and television replays found the ball to be missing from the stumps by some distance.
Whether newcomer Lige gets another chance in the second Test in Barbados in five days’ time remains to be seen, but the left-hander certainly has obvious technical shortcomings, especially for Roach’s line of attack.
Root’s arrival, however, changed the color of the innings from a vulnerability to a growing assurance.
Nothing epitomized a calm playing surface more than Roach, who is normally a fiery fast-medium at his best, asking wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva to stand up to the stumps during a spell in mid-afternoon, when The batsmen were moving on the pitch. ,
Even Nkrumah Bonner was given a chance to toss some of his part-time wrist-spinners before the final heavy shower paid off the chances of another game in the final session of the day.
Fielded all day on the third day by West Indies, who extended their first innings lead of 171 runs in 90.1 overs, England needed just three balls to claim the final wicket on the fourth morning.
Last man Jayden Seals was trapped leg before by Jack Leach, as the left-arm spinner took the second wicket of the innings after 43.3 overs of hard work.
West Indies’ first innings total of 375 represented an excellent recovery to overcome a troubled 127 for four in the second afternoon and was largely due to Bonner’s second Test century from a patient who scored 123 runs. Had previously occupied the crease for more than nine hours. The ninth wicket fell late on the third day.
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