Barbados, May 3
Eighteen wickets fell on an extraordinary second day, leaving the third and final Test between West Indies and England intriguingly poised in Barbados on Saturday. England stumbled to the close of play on 39 for five at the Kensington Oval to open a lead of 107 runs.
After two Tests where the batsmen dominated on flat tracks, England paceman James Anderson and West Indies counterpart Jerome Taylor produced memorable performances. Taylor made short work of the tail, removing the last three batsmen in the morning session for the addition of 17 runs as England were bowled out for 257.
Anderson then claimed six for 42, including three of the top four, in another superb spell of bowling during which he generated movement through the air and off the seam. West Indies were bowled out for 189, giving the tourists a first-innings advantage of 68. Jermaine Blackwood hit a defiant 85 for the home team, turning up the tempo when it was clear he was not going to get the support he needed from the upper and middle order.
Blackwood struck four sixes and 11 fours in an entertaining innings before he was the last man to go, holing out to Moeen Ali off Anderson. The Lancashire seamer was magnificent earlier in the innings.
Brathwaite duck
He removed Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck when the opener edged to Chris Jordan at slip before having debutant Shai Hope snaffled up by skipper Alastair Cook for five at slip. Marlon Samuels looked in aggressive mood but he badly misjudged an inswinger from Anderson, leaving a ball that swung back in and trapped him lbw for nine. Darren Bravo was caught by Jordan off spinner Moeen for nine before Jordan produced a fine diving catch at slip to dismiss Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 25 off part-time spinner Joe Root.
England, however, were unable to make the most of their first-innings lead as Taylor took his turn to shine on a surface offering more and more to the seamers.— Reuters
Brief scores: England 257 and 39 for 5; West Indies 189 (Blackwood 85, Anderson 6-42)