Was the West Indies too much of a test for England?

England bottle the decisive 3rd test against the West Indies

Leo McManus-Andrea
27th March 2022
Image: Wikimedia Commons
With Kraigg Brathwaite winning the toss and opting to bowl, England's weak batting line up was immediately put to the test. Crawley and Lees opened the batting, although the partnership was short lived with Zac Crawley chipping the ball straight to the captain Brathwaite who took the simple catch to dismiss him for seven.

The wickets didn't stop falling as root went out for a duck for Kyle Mayers to take his second wicket of the morning session.

Dan Lawrence was underwhelming after getting 91 and 41 in the second test fell for a measly eight to continue Englands batting woes. Ben Stokes fell after lunch trying to be aggressive to spark a resurgence ended up hitting the ball straight back to Alzarri Joseph. Opener Alex Lees quickly went out next after looking sturdy with 31 off 97 to dampen England's only bright spark.

England struggled to cope with the aggressive bowling of the West Indies as Jonny Bairstow lost his wicket after just three balls.

Ben Foakes managed to score a boundary to give England something to cheer about before getting cleaned bowled by Jayden Seales. Overton and Woakes looked like forming a partnership, but Overton was bested by the brilliance of Kemar Roach. With England stumbling at 110-8 Jack Leach and England finally given some reprieve by the ruthless bowling attack, as he dropped on ten at the end of the afternoon session.

Woakes beaten by Seales as he los this wicket in the start of the evening session to leave England in trouble at 114-9. Saqib Mahmood and Jack Leach forming a strong last stand for England, but there was a breathless moment as Saqib Mahmood was dropped for 15 with England at 149-9. The pair impressed with a 90 run partnership to drag England up to 204 all out.

West Indies looked to chase down 204 on the second day, starting with some promise and an opening partnership of 50 runs. It took a deceptive ball from Ben Stokes to break the partnership. Saqib Mahmood impressing with the ball as well as the bat whilst he dismissed the dangerous Shamarh Brooks for just thirteen.

Wickets soon began to come for England as Overton dismissed Campbell with the help of DRS and Woakes' aggressive bouncer saw Bonner edge the ball through to Foakes. Woakes continued his strong spell as he promptly got rid off Jason Holder for a duck leaving West Indies on 82-5. Once again Chis Woakes claimed another wicket of Jermain Blackwood, despite an attempted review from the batsmen the decision still went England's way.

An explosive cameo from Kyle Mayers with 28 off 39 ended with a simple catch from Saqib Mahmood, after a good set up from Ben Stokes. The West Indies seemed to be faltering although an impressive century from Josh Da Silva brought West Indies to 297-10 to give them a lead of 93.

England looking to recover after a poor first innings got off to a poor start with Crawley - going out for just eight after only 3.5 overs.

Twitter: @englandcricket

Root having a test to forget after falling for five with England under pressure.

Lawrence couldn't deal with Mayers' as he went out for a duck. Mayers quickly grabbed his third of the innings as caught out an indecisive Ben Stokes with a stellar piece of bowling.

Bairstow attempted to up the strike rate going for a big swing with no avail as he edged the ball straight to the keeper Josh Da Silva. A brief piece of madness from England as Ben Foakes ran himself out. Alex Lees was Mayers next victim after a long stand facing 132 balls he was clean bowled by the West Indies' bowler.

Kyle Mayers completed his five wicket haul claiming Overton for just one, leaving England 103-8 at the end of day three. Woakes trying to extend Englands lead lost his wicket to a stunning flying catch from Jason Holder at leg slip. Leach was Englands last wicket to go and gave them a pitiful lead of 27 as they were all out for 120.

West Indies effortlessly chased down Englands 'lead' of 27 without losing a wicket. This handed West Indies a 1-0 in the three match series in which the they shone throughout, due to England getting off to a rocky start under new management.

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