‌ENG vs WI | Twitter reacts to English top-order eclipse Windies valiance on moving day

The overnight batters failed to capitalise on the 175-run fourth wicket stand between Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge that steered West Indies to 351/5 at the end of the second day. Jason Holder and Kevin Sinclair were swiftly removed by Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes in the first hour of play. Woakes continued his merry way, outsmarting Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales on back-to-back deliveries in the 99th over before Shamar Joseph accompanied Da Silva. Following a brief period of watchful cricket, the pair assaulted the opposition bowlers with five sixes coming in the last 12 overs. The 71-run tenth-wicket stand troubled the opposition and forced an extended period of play before Wood had a final laugh over Shamar as West Indies got bundled for 457 with a 31-run lead.

The England unit incurred an early setback in the form of Zak Crawley who was runout at the non-striker’s end in a silly fashion. Unfettered by the early blow, first innings’ centurion Ollie Pope joined hands with Ben Duckett in building the innings. They raced to 58 runs in 10 overs at the session’s halfway mark before Duckett notched up a quick fifty in just 55 balls. The southpaw continued peppering the Windies pace attack coupled with a few sweeps against Kevin Sinclair to propel England to 116/1 at Tea.

Pope got to his fifty after the resumption of play in the third session before Windies’ ploy to change the worn out ball was approved at the start after it failed to pass the rim. The tactic turned out effective in breaking the 119-run second wicket stand as Alzarri Joseph produced inward seam movement in the immediate next over to bait Ollie Pope at 51. Ben Duckett followed suit in the same spell after being trapped leg before wicket. Despite the weather turning gloomy, Joe Root and Harry Brook opted a measured approach steering England to 179/3 at the time of drinks. The pair navigated the gaps in a smart way and built a fifty runs stand before reaching the 200-run mark in the 42nd over. While Brook personified fearless approach and brought up a 62-ball fifty, Root displayed his natural flair to take England to 248/3 at Stumps Day 3.

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Classic

Decent bowling

Still there

Breaking roofs

Only glory shots

Waited for this 

Trap

Mad yorker

What a shot!