West Indies edge ahead in fascinating, error-strewn Grenada Test

The hosts had tail-end resolve of their own, with wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva proving to be immovable as he helped his team into a marginal lead at the close, with two wickets in hand

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Grenada (second day of five): England 204, West Indies 232-8 - West Indies lead by 28 runs with two first-innings wickets remaining

Scorecard

England's bowlers fought back in Grenada to lay the foundations for a second-innings shootout to decide the destination of the Richards-Botham Trophy, but it was Joshua da Silva and West Indies who forced themselves in front at the end of day two.

After Jack Leach and Saqib Mahmood had lifted the tourists to a score of some limited respectability on Thursday, the pair combined with the rest of the English attack to drag their side into the contest, reducing West Indies at one point to 95 for 6.

However, the hosts had tail-end resolve of their own, with wicketkeeper Da Silva proving to be immovable as he helped his team into a marginal lead at the close, with two wickets in hand. 

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Chris Woakes claimed three wickets for England on day two (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

It did not look as if the game was going to be anywhere near as close during the first hour and a half of play, as the West Indies opening pair of John Campbell and Kraigg Brathwaite dug in their heels.

Obdurate Brathwaite and combative Campbell put on 50 for the first wicket in 17 overs, cutting the lead by a quarter, before England finally had a breakthrough when captain Brathwaite was trapped lbw by Ben Stokes, a delivery which jagged low.

That dismissal precipitated a home collapse, however, as from 50 for 0 the hosts were soon 95 for 6.

Shamarh Brooks was trapped on his crease by Mahmood and sent packing, lbw, for 13 before Campbell - having twice been hit on the helmet by Craig Overton, got a nibble down the legside to the Somerset bowler and Ben Foakes gobbled up the chance.

Next, it was Chris Woakes's turn to make a mark on the series with the ball.

The Warwickshire allrounder, so often praised for seam presentation and disciplined lines and lengths, found success through the short ball.

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Joshua da Silva proved an obstacle for England (Randy Brooks/AFP via Getty Images)

Nkrumah Bonner was given the hurry-up and was caught behind, before Jason Holder played a wild pull to his third delivery and could only find Jonny Bairstow in the deep.

Jermaine Blackwood was the third victim in Woakes's flurry, pinned lbw, with DRS upholding the onfield decision by the barest of margins. 

Kyle Mayers and Joshua da Silva provided some resilience for West Indies, adding 33 for the seventh wicket, but any promise that stand held fell apart when Mayers dished up a tame catch to Mahmood at mid-on off Stokes.

Again, there was a risk of collapse. But Da Silva had other ideas. He put together 49 with Alzarri Joseph - who was eventually dismissed by Overton, taking a huge swipe and catching an inside edge through to Foakes - and then an unbeaten 55 with Kemar Roach, completing his fourth Test half-century in the process, to take West Indies into the lead.

All is still to play for in this game of errors. Maybe the second innings should just be left to the bowlers.


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