Shannon Gabriel finished with figures of 4-51 off 17 overs
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
After a substandard performance in the first Test at Edgbaston, the West Indies put up more of a fight on the first day of the second Test at Headingley as Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach took four wickets apiece to bowl England out for 258.
While it was refreshing to see the West Indies take the attack to the hosts and make them sweat, England all-rounder Ben Stokes deserves a lot of credit for his sparkling hundred.
Electing to bat first, England found themselves in trouble early on as Gabriel removed Alastair Cook, who scored a magnificent 243 in the first Test at Edgbaston, for just 11 runs.
Tom Westley failed to have an impact with the bat as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Roach for three runs.
Not long after, Mark Stoneman was on his way back to the pavilion as he was caught behind off the bowling of Roach for 19.
Having been reduced to 37/3 in the 15th over, England faced an uphill battle to claw their way back into the game.
Captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan looked on course to steady the ship, but it was not to be as Malan was clean bowled by West Indies skipper Jason Holder for eight runs.
Root and Stokes started to bring England back into the game as they amassed a 69-run partnership, during which Root brought up his half-century.
Joe Root struck his 31st half-century in Test cricket
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Root’s knock was a historic one as he had now scored at least 50 or more in one innings in 12 consecutive Test matches. The only other player to have accomplished this feat is South Africa’s AB de Villiers.
However, he was unable to make the most of it as he was caught by Jermaine Blackwood at slip off the bowling of Devendra Bishoo for 59, which came off 98 balls and included nine boundaries.
Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow only made two runs, but Stokes and Moeen Ali kept the scoreboard ticking with a 68-run stand, during which Stokes cruised past his fifty.
Just as England were back in contention, Moeen, who scored 22, became Roach’s third victim when he was caught by Roston Chase at point.
Stokes went on to score 100 off 124 balls, which included 17 boundaries, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Gabriel.
Ben Stokes celebrates after scoring his sixth Test century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Four balls later, Gabriel had his fourth wicket as he cleaned up Stuart Broad for a four-ball duck.
England ended up being bowled out for 258 when Chris Woakes was sent packing by Roach for 23.
Roach and Gabriel picked up four wickets apiece, while Holder and Bishoo chipped in with one wicket each.
Trailing by 258 runs, the West Indies got off to a horrible start as opener Kieran Powell was caught by Cook at first slip, which was his 150th catch in Tests, off the bowling of James Anderson for five runs.
Kraigg Brathwaite and Bishoo, who was sent in as the nightwatchman, ensured the West Indies did not lose anymore wickets as they accumulated an unbeaten eight-run partnership before stumps was called.
Brathwaite finished on 13, while Bishoo remained undefeated on one.
Anderson was the only bowler to take a wicket.
The West Indies ended day one on 19/1 and will continue batting on Saturday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.