Holder rocks hosts

Southampton, July 9

West Indies captain Jason Holder took a career-best 6/42 as England were bowled out for 204 on the second overcast day of the first Test at the Ageas Bowl today.

Shannon Gabriel nabbed the first three wickets, Holder the next six, including England counterpart Ben Stokes for a team-best 43, and Gabriel grabbed the last wicket to finish with 4/62. England, at 174/9, didn’t look like reaching 200 but Dom Bess hit 31 not out and shared 30 with fast bowler James Anderson, the last man out.

After an early tea was taken, the visitors’ opening pair put up a disciplined batting display despite ideal bowling conditions to take West Indies to 43 before John Campbell was dismissed for 28 by Anderson. Brathwaite was not out at 20, with Shai Hope (2) coming in at one-down as West Indies were 56/1 after 19 overs.

Earlier, Gabriel and Holder reduced England to 106/5 at lunch. But the break enlivened Stokes and Jos Buttler, who came out punchy and riding some luck. Stokes, dropped on 14 by Kemar Roach on the run, was dropped again on 32 off Roach to a simpler chance by Shamarh Brooks at extra cover. Stokes and Buttler combined for 67 and 13 boundaries in the empty arena until Holder drew Stokes forward on 43 and earned an edge behind. Buttler (35) was out to another seaming ball by Holder and a low, one-handed catch behind by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich.

When Jofra Archer was out for a duck, Holder had his fifth wicket and taken 3/1 in 14 balls. The five-wicket haul was Holder’s seventh, and sixth in his last 10 Tests. — AP