ENG vs WI | Caribbean hopes leave firm imprint on Day 2 as Hodge-Athanaze hand Windies advantage

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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The under-fire West Indies batting lineup showed up with aplomb at Trent Bridge on Friday to rack up 351/5 on the scoreboard, in pursuit of England's 416. Kavem Hodge starred with a maiden Test ton while Alick Athanaze fashioned his way to 82 as part of a pivotal 175-run stand between the duo.

ā€ŒBrief score: WI 351/5 (84) [Hodge 120(171), Athanaze 82(99); Bashir 23-0-100-2] trail ENG 416 byĀ 55 runs at Stumps on Day 2

In their first bowling effort post the James Anderson era, Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson took the new ball against West IndiesĀ in sunny conditions. Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle LouisĀ ensured the duo went unrewarded in their opening spells with calculated yet dynamic batting to settle in with a 32-run partnership, prompting Ben Stokes to bring in Mark Wood and Shaoib Bashir into the attack. The former was immediately on the money, his first two overs the fastest ever recorded by an English bowler on home soil followed by a 156 clicks snorter, but the Windies openers battled through the adversity to register their firstĀ half-century partnership together. However, just when play seemed to have settled, a lucky boundary off a wild hoick buoyed Louis to attack Bashir with another slog, only for this one to land in the hands of a circling Harry Brook. Nevertheless, the visitors kept the scoreboard ticking and seemed well poised with Lunch approaching, but a nasty short-ball ploy by Atkinson dispatched the skipper for 48 before Bashir benefitted with another loose heave by Kirk McKenzie to go into the break at 89/3.

Despite two new batters at the crease, Stokes began the second session with a struggling Woakes at one end alongside Bashir. Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge promptly lapped up the opportunity to settle in and then turned on the style to force Wood back into the action. The express quick took just sevenĀ balls to create a chance but Joe Root spilled a sitter at first slip to afford Hodge a second life. There was no looking back thereafter as the battersĀ racked up 68 runs in the last 10 overs before Tea, bringing up their half-centuries in the process, and the score read a handsome 212/3 at the interval.

The wicket drought continued well into the third session as the partnership ticked past 150 and up to 175. Stokes finally delivered the breakthrough when Athanaze flashedĀ hard at a wide half-volley and gully pocketed the ensuing outside edge, stranding his counterpart 18 short of a maiden Test ton. There were no such regrets though for Hodge as he brought up the milestone soon after, battling hard against early signs of reverse swing, and walked out to a standing ovation when Woakes trapped him in front for 120. Jason Holder dug in adamantly thereon while Joshua da Silva dealt in boundaries, surviving a near-unplayable spell of Wood's reverse swing to end the day with an unbeaten stand of 46.

Brilliant day

Separate fan base

Good pace

Maiden test century

Well played

Hanging

On high

Good spell

Terrific ton

Sensational century

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