LEEDS: Kraigg Brathwaite’s defiant unbeaten century and a fine knock from Shai Hope ensured the West Indies continued their spirited fightback in the second Test against England at Headingley on Saturday.

The West Indies were 206 for three in reply to England’s first innings 258, a deficit of just 52 runs, at tea on the second day.

Brathwaite was 102 not out and Shai Hope unbeaten on 85.

Their unbroken stand was so far worth 171 runs.

The fourth-wicket duo had come together with West Indies in trouble at 35 for three after James Anderson had dismissed Kyle Hope, Shai’s older brother, on his way to brilliant lunch figures of three wickets for 10 runs in 12 overs.

That left Anderson just five shy of becoming the first England bowler to take 500 Test wickets and the sixth overall.

But not even Anderson could make further inroads as Brathwaite and Shai Hope batted through the second session.

Their partnership made England’s decision to drop third seamer Toby Roland-Jones look all the more curious.

Roland-Jones had taken 14 wickets in three Tests at an average of under 20 apiece since making his debut in England’s preceding 3-1 home series win over South Africa.

But despite those fine figures he was omitted at Headingley, with England recalling the fit-again Chris Woakes, ostensibly in a bid to give the all-rounder game time ahead of the upcoming Ashes tour of Australia.

But Woakes too often bowled short on a Headingley pitch where bowlers have traditionally been rewarded for maintaining a fuller length and at tea he had figures of none for 40 in 11 overs.

The West Indies found runs hard to come by while Anderson was bowling under grey skies.

But after Anderson dismissed nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo, caught behind for his overnight one, and had Kyle Hope (3) well taken at second slip by England captain Joe Root, the tourists hit back when the swing specialist was given a breather.

Brathwaite and Shai Hope were still in the middle when conditions for batting improved as the sun broke through.

The West Indies resumed on their overnight 19-1, having produced a much-improved bowling display following a humiliating innings and 209-run defeat at Edgbaston last week that left them 1-0 down in the three-match series.

Brathwaite, who resumed on 13 not out, successfully reviewed lbw decisions on 35 and 46, after first getting an inside edge to Stuart Broad and being outside off stump playing a shot when given out to off-spinner Moeen Ali.

With the very next ball after Ali’s appeal was overturned, Brathwaite drove him for six to go to fifty.

After lunch, Shai Hope completed his fifty when he drove Woakes down the ground for his ninth four in 72 balls.

On 60, Shai Hope was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Ben Stokes.

But he showed no sign of being shaken up.

He was, however, dropped on 72 when Mark Stoneman, back on his heels at short leg, couldn’t hold on to a whip off Ali.

In desperation, Root gave the last over before tea to part-time spinner Tom Westley.

Having reached his fifty with a six, Brathwaite went to his hundred with another when he lofted Westley’s penultimate ball before the interval high over long-on.

It was a stylish way for the 24-year-old to complete his sixth hundred in 39 Tests off 189 balls, also including 13 fours after over four-and-a-half hours at the crease.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings) 258 (B.A. Stokes 100, J.E. Root 59; S.T. Gabriel 4-51, K.A.J. Roach 4-71).

WEST INDIES (1st Innings, overnight 19-1):

K.C. Brathwaite not out 102
K.O.A. Powell c Cook b Anderson 5
D. Bishoo c Bairstow b Anderson 1
K.A. Hope c Root b Anderson 3
S.D. Hope not out 85

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-4, W-2) 10

TOTAL (for three wkts, 67 overs) 206

FALL OF WKTS: 1-11, 2-31, 3-35.

TO BAT: R.L. Chase, J. Blackwood, S.O. Dowrich, J.O. Holder, K.A.J. Roach, S.T. Gabriel.

BOWLING (to-date): Anderson 18-6-30-3; Broad 14-2-54-0; Woakes 11-2-40-0; Stokes 12-5-24-0 (2w); Ali 11-1-41-0; Westley 1-0-9-0.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2017