England chip away as Windies face 'challenging final session'

Half-centuries from Jermaine Blackwood and Shamarh Brooks led West Indies' fightback but a wicket at the stroke of Tea, thanks to Ben Stokes's persistence with the short ball, meant that England walked into the break a happier side. After the visitors were reeling under Stuart Broad's energetic spell, Blackwood and Brooks helped West Indies recover, showcasing good application and the willingness to keep the scorecard ticking. Blackwood, however, fell to Stokes just before the break, leaving West Indies at 137 for 5 in a chase of 312 on the final day.

England's success with the ball continued into the second session with Broad bagging his third wicket to send back Roston Chase who offered no shot to an incoming delivery and was out leg-before. Blackwood, who walked in next, didn't shy away from playing his shots, especially against Sam Curran off whom he scored four boundaries - including three in an over. He wasn't afraid to take the aerial route as he scored at nearly a run a ball in the initial part of his innings while Brooks was patient at the other end, happy to block, leave and rotate the strike. England missed an opportunity to send back Brooks, who appeared to have gloved a Woakes delivery that rose from back of a length. Root decided against reviewing the decision, with replays revealing a spike when the ball passed the glove. Brooks capitalised on the miss to build a steady partnership with Blackwood to frustrate the England bowlers, helping West Indies to the 100-run mark in the 33rd over.

Stokes went around the wicket and employed short-ball tactics to unsettle Blackwood and had the batsman in uncomfortable positions a couple of times. But Blackwood managed to stay out of harm's way as he registered a 81-ball fifty. Brooks attacked Dom Bess from the other end for a four and a six in an over, and also got to his fifty with a six off the spinner. But England has the last laugh in the session as Blackwood tried to put away a short ball from Stokes, only to hand a catch to Jos Buttler.

Earlier, Stokes struck an unbeaten 78 off 57 deliveries as England declared their second innings having managed 129 for 3 in only 19 overs, with 92 of those runs coming in 11 overs they faced in the morning session. Stokes's intentions were clear from the very first over as he slapped a Roach delivery past cover for a four before skipping down the track for a maximum over the long-off fence. He managed four fours and three sixes during his knock, having been reprieved early when he was put down by John Campbell at deep extra cover, leaving the bowler Shannon Gabriel howling in anger. The left-hander brought up a 36-ball fifty, his second fastest half-century -- in complete contrast to his knock in the first innings when he registered his slowest hundred -- as he helped extend the lead past 300.

England then tasted success in their first over as Broad, who was clipped for three by Kraigg Brathwaite and driven for a four by Campbell, struck off his fifth delivery. Campbell got a faint nick through to Buttler, who wasn't convinced but Broad was as he coaxed Root to opt for the review and was proved right. Brathwaite and Shai Hope were a lot more selective with their batting and were beginning to build a partnership when Woakes trapped the right-handed opener in front. Hope fell soon after, bowled by Broad with a delivery that nipped back in, leaving West Indies in a precarious position.

Brief scores: England 469/9 decl. & 129/3 decl. (Ben Stokes 78*; Kemar Roach 2-37) lead West Indies 287 & 137/5 (Jermaine Blackwood 55, Shamarh Brooks 52*; Stuart Broad 3-25) by 174 runs.

Article source: https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/113524/england-chip-away-as-windies-face-challenging-final-session