Holder, Bonner keep England at bay

by

March 10, 2022

Photo

West Indies batsmen Jason Holder (left) and Nkrumah Bonner during their partnership against England in their first Test match, played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, yesterday.

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder and batsman Nkrumah Bonner displayed some resolute batting which has so far repelled England's resurgence on day two action of the first Test in Antigua and Barbuda yesterday.

When play resumes on today's third day, Holder will need seven runs for a well-deserved half-century with Bonner looking quite compact for 103 balls to get to 34. The West Indies will start on 202 for four and trail England by 109 runs, after the visitors posted a first innings score of 311.

That rearguard from the pair came at the most opportune time, as the host were in trouble at one stage, despite getting a more than decent start from their openers.

Captain Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell looked purposeful in adding 83 runs for the first wicket, but the fall of Campbell's wicket opened the door for England to pounce, and pounce they did.

Campbell got to 35 with six fours, before Craig Overton had him caught behind down the leg side.

Brathwaite was looking good after posting his fastest Test 50 which came off 62 balls with seven fours and a six, but he too would be sent to the showers, when Mark Wood had him caught at gully for 55 with the West Indies 101 for two.

Ten runs later, Shamarh Brooks saw his good start wiped away after hitting 4 fours, as Ben Stokes came to the party to remove the right-hander for 18.

England sensed panic in the Windies batting and went in for the kill, and they were once again rewarded when Jermaine Blackwood was given out by the television umpire after getting an inside edge and was caught by Overton off Woakes for 11 at 127 for four.

Holder then joined Bonner and the pair weathered the storm literally, as a few stops start due to rain did not hinder their resistance. They have so far added a valuable unbroken 75 runs for the fifth wicket.

Earlier, England's total of 311 came about thanks largely to a fine knock of 140 from Jonny Bairstow, who added 31 runs to his overnight score of 109.

The West Indies plan was to make the new ball count on the second morning, and that they did as Jayden Seales bagged the wickets of Woakes for 28 and Overton for nought to finish with four wickets for 79 runs.

Alzarri Joseph also picked up two wickets on the morning, including the final one of Bairstow to finish with two for 70.

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND 1st Innings

(overnight 268 for six)

A Lees lbw b Roach 4

Z Crawley c wkp Da Silva b Seales 8

*J Root b Roach 13

D Lawrence c Blackwood b Holder 20

B Stokes b Seales 36

J Bairstow c Holder b Joseph 140

+B Foakes lbw b Holder 42

C Woakes c wko Da Silva b Seales 28

C Overton c Bonner b Seales 0

M Wood c Permaul b Joseph 1

J Leach not out 4

Extras (b1, lb9, nb5) 15

TOTAL (all out, 100.3 overs) 311

Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Lees), 2-17 (Crawley), 3-27 (Root), 4-48 (Lawrence), 5-115 (Stokes), 6-214 (Foakes), 7-285 (Woakes), 8-285 (Overton), 9-305 (Wood), 10-311 (Bairstow)

Bowling: Roach 21-3-85-2 (nb5), Seales 22-6-79-4, Holder 21-11-24-2, Joseph 20.3-2-70-0, Permaul 13-4-35-0, Brathwaite 3-1-7-0.

WEST INDIES 1st Innings

*K Brathwaite c Overton b Wood 55

J Campbell c wkp Foakes b Overton 35

S Brooks c Root b Stokes 18

N Bonner not out 34

J Blackwood c Overton b Woakes 11

J Holder not out 43

Extras (b1, lb2, w2, nb1) 6

TOTAL (4 wkts, 66.5 overs) 202

To bat: +J Da Silva, A Joseph, K Roach, V Permaul, J Seales

Fall of wickets: 1-83 (Campbell), 2-101 (Brathwaite), 3-111 (Brooks), 4-127 (Blackwood)