adminAntigua. — Mornings suit West Indies well, England less so. The home side fought back magnificently on the second day, reducing England to 399 from their healthy overnight position. As they were 24 hours earlier, the pace bowlers were impressive, building excruciating pressure on the batsmen as runs dried up. Including Ian Bell’s dismissal last evening, England’s collapse was an eye-watering 5 for 20 before a 38-run last-wicket flurry between Chris Jordan and James Anderson.
There was a period of five consecutive maidens, which highlighted West Indies’ grip on proceedings.
That stranglehold included the removal of both overnight batsmen, Ben Stokes guiding to gully and James Tredwell edging to first slip. Jos Buttler struggled through a 22-ball duck while Stuart Broad’s batting woes continued.
The combination of Bell, Stokes and Joe Root contributed 305 of England’s runs; the rest 70.
Whatever Curtly Ambrose said during a passionate team talk shortly before play clearly had the desired effect. The frustration will be that the disciplines of line and length deserted them for two sessions on Monday.
Ten runs off the opening two overs of the morning — which took England from 300 to 350 in 45 deliveries — hinted at more lively progress but Kemar Roach and Jerome Taylor soon settled into their work before Jason Holder followed them with an exacting spell of 7-4-14-1.
Stokes, who had scored freely against a tiring attack the previous evening, angled one boundary down to third man before succumbing attempting a repeat which landed in the lap of a fine gully.
The shot was neither one thing nor the other, which was a contrast to the conviction Stokes had shown for much of his innings. — Cricinfo.
Online Reporter