At the end of the second day of the third Test against England, Joshua da Silva scored a hard-fought half-century to help hosts West Indies take a two-wicket 28-run lead.
Da Silva scored 54 off 152 balls while Kemar Roach was at stumps on 25 as West Indies reached 232/8 after restricting England to 204 in their first innings on topsy-turvy on the second day on Friday.
West Indies looked to be in serious trouble after losing six wickets for 45 runs on either side of the luncheon, with Chris Woakes taking three wickets in a brilliant spell.
But, as England did on the first day, West Indies’ tail carried the recognized batsmen out, as Kyle Meyers (28), Alzarri Joseph (28), Roach and da Silva each scored in the second half of the day. Total overhaul of the tourists’ first innings.
England’s opening spell on the morning of the second day provided plenty of runs for the West Indies openers, as Craig Overton and Woakes notably were in first place.
The opening pair put on a 50-run stand before Ben Stokes was hit, claiming the crucial wicket of Barbados-hero Craig Brathwaite. The ICC reported on its official website that a skidi ball was placed low on the back of length and hit Brathwaite so straight that the captain turned and went with England.
The captain’s loss for 17 runs put West Indies in a position they haven’t since Antigua, needing the rest of the top-order to make a podium. And they weren’t able to do so, with both Shamar Brooks (13) and John Campbell (35) dismissing Saqib Mahmood and Overton respectively before lunch.
Woakes, who was struggling to make an impact in his role as attack leader on the tour, found a hot-streak after lunch as the ball softened, hitting Nkrumah Bonner (4) and Jason Holder in the same over. (0) was dismissed. To leave West Indies reeling at 82/5. And Woakes was in the wicket again when he dismissed Jermaine Blackwood for 18.
But the selection of the West Indies squad for this decisive third Test saw the addition of Kyle Meyers as a batting all-rounder to bolster the order, and he partly made his way to take the home team to triple digits with 28 runs. fulfilled the role as da Silva had cast the anchor. other side.
The first day in Grenada saw the batsmen get out on bail with a fine rearguard effort by England’s lower order, and the same scenario unfolded on the second day, when da Silva and Alzarri Joseph picked up where Meyers equalized the first innings. had stepped forward. ,
Joseph was removed for a 28-run fine by an overton bumper, ending the 49-run partnership and giving England hope to emerge with a first-innings lead.
But Roach went to bed with da Silva during the evening session as they put on the highest partnership of the innings for the ninth wicket, both of which were unbeaten.
Brief Scores: England 204 vs West Indies 232/8 in 86 overs (Joshua da Silva 54*, Kemar Roach 25*, John Campbell 35; Chris Woakes 3/48, Craig Overton 2/71, Ben Stokes 2/40).
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