WI on cusp of avoiding England follow-on

MANCHESTER: Shamarh Brooks led the West Indies to within sight of avoiding the follow-on in the rain-marred second Test against England at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The tourists, already 1-0 up in this three-match series, were 227-4 at tea on the fourth day, needing just 43 more runs to make England bat again in Manchester.

Brooks was 60 not out, having kept England at bay in an attractive fourth-wicket partnership of 76 with opener Kraigg Brathwaite.

But Brathwaite’s hopes of following his 134 in a five-wicket win against England at Headingley three years ago with another hundred ended on 75 when, trying to turn Ben Stokes through the leg-side, he was caught and bowled off a leading edge.

It was a desperately needed wicket for England with all-rounder Stokes, whose superb 176 was the cornerstone of their first innings 469-9 declared, not brought on to bowl by captain Joe Root until the 51st over of West Indies’ reply.

England’s best chance of winning this match, following a four-wicket loss in the first Test at Southampton last week, lay in enforcing the follow-on after rain had completely washed out Saturday’s third day at Old Trafford.

By contrast, play resumed on Sunday in bright sunshine with Wisden Trophy holders West Indies, looking for their first series win in England since 1988, starting at 32-1.

Nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph, who might have been lbw to Sam Curran had England reviewed on Friday, should have been out for 16 on Sunday when he edged Chris Woakes.

But third slip Stokes dropped the catch after Zak Crawley, moving across from second slip, obscured his view.

Off-spinner Dom Bess, however, succeeded where England’s quicks had failed when, with just his second ball on Sunday, he had Joseph well caught by Ollie Pope at short leg for 32.

Shai Hope, whose lone two Test hundreds came at Headingley in 2017, helped Brathwaite add 53 before, on 25, he was caught behind jabbing at a Curran cutter.

West Indies’ 123-3 might have become 123-4 but Brathwaite, on 46, was spared by umpire’s call when England reviewed a Stuart Broad lbw appeal.

Brathwaite then completed a 121-ball fifty when he drove Broad, who was controversially rested at Southampton, down the ground for four.

Brooks elegantly eased Broad off his pads and drove Bess for two of nine boundaries in a fifty that came from just 96 balls.

Stokes’ first delivery took Brathwaite’s edge but the ball flew past Crawley at second slip.

Root set increasingly funky fields for Stokes and the paceman’s perseverance was rewarded when his 10th successive over of pounding the ball in short saw him dismiss Brathwaite.

England came into this match, the second in a series that marks world cricket’s return from the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown with a revamped pace attack.

Having already rested James Anderson and Mark Wood, they had to omit Jofra Archer after the fast bowler admitted making an unauthorised trip home after the first Test that breached this series’ bio-secure health regulations.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Saturday that, following a disciplinary hearing, Archer would be available for the third Test, which is also scheduled at Old Trafford, starting on Friday.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings) 469-9 declared (B.A. Stokes 176, D.P. Sibley 120, J.C. Buttler 40; R.L. Chase 5-172).

WEST INDIES (1st Innings, overnight 32-1 from Friday):

K.C. Brathwaite c and b Stokes 72

J.D. Campbell lbw b Curran 12

A.S. Joseph c Pope b Bess 32

S.D. Hope c Buttler b Curran 25

S.S.J. Brooks not out 60

R.L. Chase not out 8

EXTRAS (LB-11, W-2, NB-2) 15

TOTAL (for four wkts, 76 overs) 227

FALL OF WKTS: 1-16, 2-70, 3-123, 4-199.