England vs West Indies 2nd Test Day 2: West Indies take 71-run lead behind hundreds from Hope, Brathwaite

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Shai Hope West Indies cricket

Shai Hope exults after scoring his maiden Test century

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Shai Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite stole the spotlight on the second day at Headingley as they scored a career-best 147 not out and 134 respectively to not only leave England reeling, but also give their side a useful 71-run lead.

This marked the first time since 2004 that the West Indies have secured a first innings lead in a Test match in England.

Starting off the day on 19/1, the West Indies only added 12 runs to their overnight score before nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo was caught behind off the bowling of James Anderson for one run.

Kyle Hope fared no better as he was caught by England captain Joe Root at second slip off the bowling of Anderson for three runs.

Despite getting off to a rocky start at the beginning of the day, Brathwaite and Hope turned things around for the West Indies and nearly batted the entire day as they amassed a glorious 246-run partnership, during which Brathwaite brought up his sixth Test century and Hope his first in the longest format.

Their partnership not only gave the West Indies the lead, but it was also the first time since 2013 that two West Indian batsmen had put together a stand of 200 runs or more.

The last pair to accomplish this was Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Denesh Ramdin, who forged a 200-run stand against New Zealand in Hamilton in December 2013.

It was also the West Indies’ biggest partnership in England since the unbeaten 287-run stand Larry Gomes and Gordon Greenidge assembled at Lord’s in June 1984.

However, all good things must come to an end eventually, and this was the case for Brathwaite and Hope’s partnership as Stuart Broad provided England with the breakthrough they sorely needed when he clean bowled Brathwaite for 134, which came off 249 balls and included 17 boundaries and two sixes.

Roston Chase couldn’t build on the damage inflicted by Brathwaite as he was caught by Alastair Cook at slip off the bowling of Ben Stokes for five runs.

Hope and Jermaine Blackwood guided the West Indies safely to stumps as they accumulated an unbeaten 33-run partnership.

Hope finished on 147 off 252 balls, which included 23 boundaries, while Blackwood remained undefeated on 21 off 23 deliveries, which included four boundaries.

Anderson was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Broad and Stokes claimed one wicket each.

The West Indies ended day two on 329/5 and will continue batting on Sunday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.

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