Windies pacers wreck havoc once again to bowl England out for 187

The Windies’ fast bowlers proved themselves to be too hot to handle once again, as England collapsed to 93/6 after Jason Holder won the toss and elected to field. An 85-run partnership from Moeen Ali and Ben Foakes allowed the English to lessen the blow of another faltering performance with the bat, before the visitors lost their last four wickets for just nine runs to end the first innings.

Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell then blunted the new-ball threat of England’s seamers, taking the Windies to 30/0 at stumps.

England began with a new opening combination at the helm, Joe Denly making his Test debut in place of the dropped Keaton Jennings. He lost his partner, Rory Burns (4), in just the fifth over of the day, before Denly (6) departed in very tame fashion, slashing hard at a wide loosener from Alzarri Joseph, an edge from the toe-end of his bat travelling safely into the hands of wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich.

While Joe Root (7) and Jos Buttler (1) also fell cheaply, Jonny Bairstow was at his counter-attacking best, a stroke-filled half-century arriving just before lunch. Unfortunately for England, Bairstow (52) departed just two balls after the break, a Windies review paying off, with a full-length delivery from Kemar Roach shown to be hitting leg stump.

Ben Stokes’ (14) lean time with the bat continued, as Shannon Gabriel had the left-hander poke at a shortish delivery, an edge carrying behind to Dowrich. Much to the relief of the England dressing room, Moeen and Foakes were ready to scrap for every run.

Moeen put aside a frustrating batting display in the first Test to return his highest Test score since August 2017, hitting 60 from 104 balls, his eight fours accompanied with a smoking six over deep mid-wicket from the bowling of Roston Chase.

Foakes accumulated with patience at the other end, as the pair batted through till tea. Moeen (60) eventually succumbed, trying to drive on the up only to miscue the ball to Gabriel at midwicket. Foakes (35) then followed in an unusual manner, playing a pull shot a bit too early, with the ball deflecting off his glove, onto his hip and then the stumps.

Sam Curran (6) and James Anderson (1) joined the collapse to end England’s time with the bat. Roach was the pick of the bowlers, collecting figures of 4/30.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad then resumed their new-ball partnership for the first time since the English summer, after Broad had been left out of the side in the previous match. While Kraigg Brathwaite was watchful, John Campbell attempted to demonstrate his attacking prowess, only to engage in a continuation of plays-and-misses. An attempted scoop off the bowling of Broad was adventurous, but only resulted in the ball rattling his helmet.

The pair will resume their stay at the crease tomorrow, after sealing a strong end to another sensational day for the Windies in this series.