England vs West Indies 2nd Test Day 3: Stoneman leads England’s reply after West Indies take 169-run lead

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Mark Stoneman England cricket

Mark Stoneman scored his first Test fifty

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

In a gripping day of Test cricket, Mark Stoneman struck his maiden fifty to help England secure a slim two-run lead after the West Indies amassed a 169-run lead during their innings.

Stoneman was well supported by captain Joe Root, who ended the day unbeaten on 45.

However, West Indies captain Jason Holder played a pivotal role for his side as he scored a useful 43 before proceeding to dismiss Alastair Cook and Tom Westley.

Starting off the day on 329/5, the West Indies lost two wickets on the first two balls of the day.

First to go was Shai Hope, who was caught behind off the bowling of James Anderson for a career-best 147, which came off 253 balls and included 23 boundaries.

Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich was trudging back to the pavilion the very next ball as he was caught by England captain Joe Root at second slip for a golden duck.

With England looking to go for the kill, Jermaine Blackwood and Holder stopped that from happening as they put together a 75-run partnership before Holder was caught by Moeen Ali off the bowling of Chris Woakes for a 54-ball 43.

Blackwood went on to make 49 before he was run out by Ben Stokes.

The West Indies were eventually bowled out for 427, which gave them a 169-run lead, when Shannon Gabriel was trapped lbw off the bowling of Stokes for 10 runs.

Anderson was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Stokes snapped up two, and Woakes and Stuart Broad chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Trailing by 169 runs, England made a solid start to their second innings as Cook and Stoneman amassed a 58-run partnership before Cook was caught behind off the bowling of Holder for 23.

Westley failed to have an impact with the bat as he suffered the same fate as Cook after scoring eight runs.

Stoneman went on to bring up his half-century, but he was unable to convert it into a bigger score as he was cleaned up by Gabriel for a career-best 52, which came off 124 balls and included seven boundaries.

During his knock, Stoneman was struck on the hand by Holder and suffered a dislocated finger. However, he carried on playing despite being in pain.

With England in a spot of bother at 94/3, Root and Dawid Malan steadied the ship with an unbeaten 77-run partnership before stumps was called.

Root finished on 45 off 82 balls, which included nine boundaries, while Malan remained undefeated on 21 off 65 deliveries, which included two boundaries.

Holder was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Gabriel claimed one.

England ended day three 171/3 and will continue batting on Monday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.

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