Stokes dominates again as England take handy lead

LONDON: England all-rounder Ben Stokes followed his bowling masterclass against West Indies with a half century and Stuart Broad blazed away for a vital 38 as the hosts took a 71-run first innings lead on the second day of the third Test at Lord’s on Friday.

Resuming on 46 for four in reply to the tourists’ 123, England were bowled out for 194 and were again indebted to Stokes who struck 10 boundaries in a fluent innings before being bowled out by Shannon Gabriel.

On a chaotic opening day, Stokes took a career-best six for 22 with a devastating spell of swing bowling as West Indies lost their last eight wickets for 45 runs.

West Indies stayed in contention to claim a first series victory in England for 29 years, however, as paceman Kemar Roach finished with five for 72, although they may come to rue allowing England to stretch their lead.

Rain meant only four overs were bowled before lunch with Roach having Dawid Malan caught behind for 20 to leave England on 63 for five, still 60 in arrears.

Two balls after a rain-extended lunch break Stokes was dropped on 24 and went on to reach his 12th test half century in 51 balls with 10 fours.

With Stokes scoring freely and England edging ahead of West Indies’ feeble first innings score it looked ominous for the visitors. But they hit back in style.

Shannon Gabriel looked crestfallen after bowling Stokes with an inswinger only to be no-balled for over-stepping, but two balls later he broke Stokes’s stumps with a carbon copy ball and this time there was no reprieve for England’s vice-captain.

Stokes had earlier shared in a 56-run partnership with Jonny Bairstow who fell lbw to the impressive Roach for 21.

With the game tantalisingly poised, Moeen Ali was the next to fall for three as he edged Roach to Kyle Hope who made up for his earlier drop of Stokes with a head-high catch in the slips.

England were 11 runs ahead with two wickets in hand and put on 60 for the last two wickets. Stuart Broad scored 29 with Toby Roland-Jones before his entertaining last-wicket partnership with James Anderson saw him swipe two sixes.

Broad was finally caught behind off the last ball before tea leaving Anderson unbeaten on eight.

The series is locked at 1-1 after West Indies hit back from a first-Test drubbing at Edgbaston to win a thrilling match at Headingley, their first Test win in England for 17 years.