The West Indies will begin Day 4 of the second Test match, at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on 288/4, in reply to England’s 507/9 declared. Barring a miracle or an unexpected batting collapse, this match seems destined for a draw.
Resuming their first innings on 71/1, the West Indies seemed to offer England a glimmer of hope when they lost both Shamarh Brooks, and the hero of the first Test in Antigua, Nkrumah Bonner, before lunch on Tuesday.
But captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood frustrated England for nearly the rest of the day until a weary Blackwood missed a straight delivery from part-time spinner Dan Lawrence and was leg before, having just reached his century. By then, he and Braithwaite had more than done their job.
England had their chances. Blackwood should have been leg-before before he had even scored, but Ben Stokes did not review it. He was later bowled off a no-ball by debutant Saqib Mahmood. But with none of their top pace bowlers available to them in this match, the English attack lacked teeth, and the pitch remains slow and even paced.
Braithwaite batted all day and will resume on 109, with nightwatch Alzarri Joseph at the other end, on 4.
The West Indies will look to bat for rest of much of the day, but the script from here looks predictable for the rest of the match. England are likely to take a lead of less than a one hundred into the second innings, and will probably look to score quickly and aim to declare after lunch on Sunday. However, as in Antigua, the West Indies are likely to secure a draw without any undue alarms.
Fantasy Tips:
- Pick Holder and Joseph. Both are likely to get long stints with bat.
- Back Stokes. He may bat later in the day after bowling.
- Among wicketkeepers, back Joshua Da Silva over Jonny Bairstow.