Patient Bravo helps West Indies extend lead against England

North Sound (Antigua and Barbuda), Feb 2 (AFP) Darren Bravo's ultra-patient half-century extended the West Indies first innings lead to 119 as the home side were eventually dismissed for 306 on the third morning of the second Test against England on Saturday. Trailing in the three-match series after suffering a 381-run defeat in the first Test in Barbados, England openers Rory Burns and debutant Joe Denly survived four overs in reaching nine without loss at the interval at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Bravo was the lone West Indies batsman to fail in both innings of the match at Kensington Oval and made amends in a manner completely against his nature, his even 50 coming off 216 deliveries, the slowest-ever by a West Indies batsman in Test cricket in terms of balls faced. In stark contrast to the watchful defiance which typified his near six-hour occupation of the crease, the left-hander was last out when he charged down the pitch at Moeen Ali to be stumped.

It was the off-spinner's third wicket of the innings. Stuart Broad, England's outstanding bowler on the second day when he picked up three wickets, was left empty-handed on the third morning as opening partner James Anderson finally got among the wickets to limit the West Indies quest for a sizeable first innings advantage after he resumed at 272 for six.

He first removed Jason Holder, who contributed 22 to a 45-run seventh-wicket partnership with Bravo, via a catch to stand-in wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. England team officials have confirmed that although regular 'keeper Ben Foakes suffered no fracture when struck on the hand while batting on the first day on Thursday, Bairstow will do duty behind the stumps for the rest of the match.

Kemar Roach then became Anderson's second wicket courtesy of a fine diving catch by Ben Stokes at second slip when the tailender essayed a massive drive at the experienced swing bowler. Local boy Alzarri Joseph's arrival at the crease was greeted with hearty and sympathetic applause from the fans at the ground as the 22-year-old decided to continue to playing in the match despite his mother, Sharon, passing away earlier in the morning.

Both teams are wearing black armbands as a mark of respect at Joseph's loss. There was no sympathy though for the young man in his time at the wicket as Stokes served up a lifting delivery which Joseph could only fend into the slip cordon for Rory Burns to take the catch. Joined by last man Shannon Gabriel, Bravo hoisted Ali for six to close in on the half-century. But it was the bowler who had the last laugh after the batsman accomplished the landmark, Bairstow completing the task behind the stumps to leave England with a significant job to erase the first innings lead on a pitch which continues to offer considerable assistance to the faster bowlers. AFP KHS

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