Windies show renewed vigour after Gabriel-Roach show
The Windies bowlers showed great improvement but Ben Stokes's hundred propped up England on the first day of the second Test at Headingley on Friday.
Stokes made an even 100 as England were bowled out for 258 while the Windies reached 19 for 1 in response at stumps.
The blemish on an otherwise good day for Windies was the fielding. Both Stokes and England captain Joe Root, who made 59 after winning the toss, were dropped on 8 and 9 respectively. Stokes was handed a reprieve again on 98, with the three dropped catches effectively costing the Windies 142 runs.
Shannon Gabriel returned to the attack and impressed with 4 for 51 runs in 17 overs while new-ball partner Kemar Roach took 4 for 71 in 19.5.
An intriguing day sees West Indies finish Day 1 of the 2nd #EngvWI Test 19/1 after bowling England out for 258.https://t.co/7Ar68iyWtv pic.twitter.com/CU6uAL7DsP
— ICC (@ICC) August 25, 2017
Nevertheless, it was a remarkable turnaround for the tourists after succumbing to an innings and 209-run defeat inside three days in the inaugural day-night Test in Britain at Edgbaston last week.
England slipped to 37 for 3 after Alastair Cook, who made 243 at Edgbaston, fell for 11, edging Gabriel low to Kyle Hope at third slip, while Tom Westley and Mark Stoneman were also dismissed cheaply.
Dawid Malan then played onto Windies captain Jason Holder for 8, and England were 71 for 4.
Root equalled South Africa's AB de Villiers's all-time record of fifties in 12 consecutive Tests, but was out shortly thereafter when toe-ending a sweep off Devendra Bishoo to Jermaine Blackwood at slip.
Jonny Bairstow's dismissal left the home side struggling at 152 for 6, but Stokes and Moeen Ali (22) fought back after tea with a breezy 68-run stand.
Stokes brought up his sixth century in 28 Tests, and his first against the Windies, in 122 balls with 17 fours, but he was caught behind off Gabriel shortly thereafter.
Shane Dowrich, the wicketkeeper, then dropped a simple catch, but Stuart Broad, the reprieved batsman, was still yorked for nought by Gabriel as England lost its last three wickets on 258.
England, however, managed to end the day on a positive note with James Anderson dismissing Powell.