north sound: Mar 12 (IANS) Zak Crawley scored his second century in Test cricket while captain Joe Root went on an unbeaten 84 as England made a strong comeback in the second innings of the opening Test against the West Indies, managing 217/1 on the stumps. on Day 4 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Saturday.
England now lead the hosts by 153 runs, after the West Indies’ early innings retired for 375, a 64-run lead after the tourists scored 311 in the early innings.
The 24-year-old Crawley helped put England into a comfortable position when rain ended play on day four, with the opening batsman unbeaten on 117 of 200 deliveries. England’s top-order batsman had gone 21 innings without reaching triple figures since his astonishing 257 against Pakistan in 2020. Crawley had only reached 50 in two of those 21 innings, one of many English players to struggle in the top three. recent years.
But, after overcoming a difficult opening spell against the new ball, Crawley stood his ground and worked his way to a deserved ton, forging a 193-run partnership with Root that has given England an outside opportunity to put pressure on the Indies. Westerners on the last day.
The home team added just two runs to their score overnight, with Jack Leach picking up 10th West Indies wicket on just the third ball of the day. Jayden Seals checked, but DRS upheld lbw’s original decision as the West Indies were looking for 375, with Nkrumah Bonner scoring with 123.
The new ball immediately caused problems for England’s two opening batsmen, with Kemar Roach extracting plenty of movement on his first spell. And the pressure told Alex Lees, who succumbed to a second low score of the match, pinned up front by Roach, as he had been in the early innings, to be sent back for 6 of 27 balls.
Two single-figure scores from his first two Test Cricket outings was hardly the start the 28-year-old would have dreamed of, but England have backed the Durham batsman for at least the remainder of this three-match series at the Caribbean. and he will be given a chance to recover from what has been a rough debut in the opening test.
Crawley and Root survived the remainder of a tricky first session, overcoming West Indies’ 64 first-inning lead and hitting 72/1 at lunch. As the ball aged and the threat diminished, Crawley and Root built up a strong score during the afternoon session, with the stand only interrupted by scattered showers forcing a handful of short rain delays.
Veerasammy Permaul thought he had stolen a wicket shortly before tea, appealing to a Crawley bottom edge having bounced right off his boot and slip hands. But the soft signal did not come out and the review supported the decision, with Crawley surviving.
And the youngster took advantage after the break, getting his hundred with a flick on the side of the leg for two, reaching the milestone of 181 balls.
The run rate increased to more than three times over during the final session, but rain ensured it was a start-stop affair in Antigua, with players going in and out repeatedly before a final heavy downpour brought the day to a close. with England on 217/1.
England will resume on the final day with 153 runs to go, with Crawley unbeaten on 117 and Root 16 runs from their 24th Test century.
Brief scores: England 311 and 217/1 (Zak Crawley 117 not eliminated, Joe Root 84 not eliminated) vs West Indies 375 (Kraigg Brathwaite 55, Nkrumah Bonner 123, Jason Holder 45; Jack Leach 2/79, Ben Stokes 2/42 ).