His fourth-wicket stand of 183 took West Indies to 288 for 4 in their first innings, still 219 runs behind England at stumps.
His fourth-wicket stand of 183 took West Indies to 288 for 4 in their first innings, still 219 runs behind England at stumps.
Centuries from West Indies’ Craig Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood on the third day of the second Test in Barbados stopped a frustrated England in a match that is rapidly heading towards a draw.
His fourth-wicket stand of 183 took West Indies to 288 for four in their first innings, still 219 runs behind England at stumps.
Blackwood, who would have gone lbw for a duck upon reviewing England’s decision, eventually came close to 102 when spinner Jack Leach was not given a shot.
The Barbadian Brathwaite was an immovable object as he played with the utmost care, taking 278 balls to reach his 10th Test century.
After completing his century at his home ground, many fans of England gave him a warm welcome at the Kensington Oval.
Opener Brathwaite has been on the field for every minute of the first three days, displaying a powerful sense of concentration that never wavered.
He was 109 at the stumps, while nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph was on four. Though his batting average is barely 33, Brathwaite has been a West Indies mainstay for over a decade and knows how to hold on to the crease.
Lucky Blackwood
On Friday he was supported by the ever-lucky Blackwood, who should have been sent packing twice and blamed England both times.
The Jamaican was pummeled on the pads by Ben Stokes over what would have been a duck, but England opted not to review the on-field not out call as ball-tracking showed it would have hit the middle of the leg-stump .
Blackwood had another life at 65 when bowled by a yorker, a no-ball call that would have been debutant Shakib Mahmood’s maiden Test wicket.
England’s bowlers fought hard, but lacked the sophisticated penetration required to beat the regular bat on a calm pitch, averaging no more than 80 mph (130 kph) for any of their fast bowlers. Was.
Spinner Leach sent 44 clean overs, landing the ball on a proverbial dinner plate with a monotonous regularity, but only occasionally hitting the bat.
After last week’s first Test in the three-match series was drawn, the current competition is also likely to end in a stalemate unless England can take some early wickets on Saturday morning.
England started the day well when they picked up two wickets in the morning session, highlighted by several very close LBW calls.
Leach had caught Shamar Brooks (39) at backward point from a miss-hit cut, while Stokes had trapped the dangerous Bonner on lbw for nine, the on-field decision standing when a review showed the ball hit middle stump. would have slipped over.
Blackwood survived another close lbw decision before lunch.