Thursday, April 16, 2015
NORTH SOUND, Antigua and Barbuda (AFP) — England’s top-order tumbled cheaply again, but the tourists still worked themselves into a commanding position at 116 for three in their second innings, an overall lead of 220, by stumps on the third day of the first Test against the West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua yesterday. Jermaine Blackwood’s maiden Test hundred lifted the home side to 295 in their first innings with James Tredwell’s off-spin bringing him the excellent figures of four for 47 off 26 overs and ensuring his side earned a significant first-innings lead.
Left with the final session to build on an advantage of 104 runs, openers Jonathan Trott and captain Alastair Cook were prised out in double-quick time by Jerome Taylor. First-innings centenarian Ian Bell was then run out, but at 52 for three, Joe Root (32 not out) joined Gary Ballance (44 not out) in resisting the early threat and then profited against bowlers who quickly ran out of discipline and inspiration.
Defending a first-innings total of 399, English perseverance in the field on another sweltering day’s play eventually paid off. Tredwell made the important breakthrough in the morning by removing Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 46 before adding the wickets of Jason Holder and Kemar Roach as the West Indies lower order failed to show any meaningful resistance, the last four wickets subsiding for 19 runs. Blackwood’s unbeaten 112 was compiled in a stay of almost six hours at the crease, highly unusual for a batsman noted for quick-fire, strokefilled innings. His knock was not without moments of good fortune though. more
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