Cook leads from front as England make solid progress

ST GEORGE’S (Grenada): Skipper Alastair Cook led from the front with a timely return to form as England progressed to 143 for one at lunch on the third day of the second Test against West Indies at St George’s in Grenada on Thursday, trailing the hosts by 156 runs.

Cook was unbeaten on 67 with the only joy for West Indies coming with the removal of Jonathan Trott for 59.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo lured Trott into a drive with a full delivery on off-stump which he edged to Jermaine Blackwood at second slip.

The 125-run opening partnership for England was their first century opening stand since March, 2013.

Cook and Trott, returning after a lengthy absence from the team, failed to get scores in the drawn first Test in Antigua but took much confidence from Wednesday’s final session.

The West Indies attack lacked penetration in the absence of injured Jerome Taylor and with batting conditions improving, as the damp and overcast weather made way for bright sunshine, Cook and Trott made good progress before stumps.

England bowled West Indies out for 299 after Marlon Samuels made his seventh Test century and a last-wicket partnership of 52 pushed the hosts to a competitive total.

Rain showers disrupted the first session but after an early lunch, Samuels, 94 not out overnight, completed his ton.

The Jamaican made 103 from 228 balls in an uncharacteristic but valuable patient knock before he was caught by Ian Bell at second slip off James Anderson.

The disappointment at losing Samuels just after reaching his century was intensified when skipper Denesh Ramdin went shortly afterwards, England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler snapping up an edge off Stuart Broad.

Jason Holder, who had looked in good form again after his century in the last Test, fell just after hitting Broad for a six when his attempted drive was edged to Buttler.

Broad, who finished with figures of four for 61, made good use of the second new ball and also claimed the wicket of Kemar Roach who was comfortably caught by Joe Root after an edge on to his pad lobbed up to gully.

West Indies were 247 for nine but last pair Bishoo and Shannon Gabriel played positive strokes as the hosts again displayed their new-found resilience under coach Phil Simmons.

Bishoo’s 30, before he was trapped lbw by Moeen Ali, was his highest Test score and Gabriel’s unbeaten 20 was also his best in five-day cricket.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES (1st Innings):

K.C. Brathwaite b Anderson 1 D.S. Smith c Buttler b Jordan 15 D.M. Bravo c Cook b Broad 35 M.N. Samuels c Bell b Anderson 103 S. Chanderpaul c Moeen b Stokes 1 J. Blackwood lbw b Jordan 26 D. Ramdin c Buttler b Broad 31 J.O. Holder c Buttler b Broad 22 K.A.J. Roach c Root b Broad 1 D. Bishoo lbw b Moeen 30 S.T. Gabriel not out 20

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-6, W-1, NB-2) 14

TOTAL (all out, 104.4 overs) 299

FALL OF WKTS: 1-2, 2-28, 3-65, 4-74, 5-129, 6-223, 7-233, 8-246, 9-247.

BOWLING: Anderson 24-10-47-2; Broad 24-9-61-4; Jordan 25-4-65-2 (2nb, 1w); Moeen Ali 13.4-1-47-1; Stokes 17-7-66-1; Trott 1-0-2-0.

ENGLAND (1st Innings, overnight 74-0):

A.N. Cook not out 67 I.J.L. Trott c Blackwood b Bishoo 59 G.S. Ballance not out 7

EXTRAS (B-1, NB-9) 10

TOTAL (for one wkt, 60 overs) 143

FALL OF WKT: 1-125.

TO BAT: I.R. Bell, J.E. Root, Moeen Ali, B.A. Stokes, J.C. Buttler, C.J. Jordan, S.C.J. Broad, J.M. Anderson.

BOWLING (to-date): Roach 13-2-42-0 (4nb); Gabriel 9-3-25-0 (3nb); Holder 11-3-27-0; Bishoo 20-7-40-1 (2nb); Samuels 7-3-8-0.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2015