ENG vs WI: Rory Burns, Stuart Broad shine as England set 399-run target for Windies to win series finale
Rory Burns, Stuart Broad (Image Source: Twitter)

England openers Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley smashed individual half-centuries on Day 3 of the final Test against West Indies at Old Trafford in Manchester. England began their second innings after bundling out West Indies for 197.

Unlike the first innings, Windies bowler looked out of touch, and English openers took full advantage of it. Both Burns and Sibley kept on tickling the scoreboard to put excessive pressure on the Caribbean bowlers.

In the 38th over of England’s second innings bowled by spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, Sibley guided the short ball to backward point region and reached his half-century.

Soon, Burns followed the footsteps of his batting partner and completed his fifty.

The duo added 114-runs for the opening wicket before West Indies skipper Jason Holder sent Sibley back into the pavilion.

100+ opening stands for England in home Tests since 2010:

  • 186 – A Strauss and A Cook vs India, Edgbaston 2011
  • 177 – A Lyth and A Cook vs New Zealand, Leeds 2015
  • 126 – A Cook and A Hales vs Pakistan, Edgbaston 2016
  • 103* – R Burns and D Sibley vs West Indies, Old Trafford 2020

Holder, who got the prized wicket of Sibley, became the fourth skipper in the history of Test cricket to claim 100+ wickets and score 1500+ runs.

Captains with 1500+ runs & 100+ wickets in Tests:

  • Garry Sobers (3528 & 117)
  • Imran Khan (2408 & 187)
  • Daniel Vettori (1917 & 116)
  • Jason Holder (1620 & 100)*

Even, after Sibley’s dismissal, Windies couldn’t continue the momentum as No.3 Joe Root played a handy knock of 68 not out. Burns, on the other end, kept on making runs in order to reach triple figures but yet again it was Roston Chase who did the damage and ended the marathon innings of Burns on 90.

As soon as Burns got out, English skipper Root declared the second innings for 226/2, setting a massive target of 399 runs for the tourists to win the third Test.

Windies came to bat with opening pair of Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell. However, they wouldn’t have anticipated what was to follow as English speedster Stuart Broad, who claimed a 6-fer in the first innings, drew the first blood in the second innings.

Broad came round the wicket and bowled a simple-looking delivery just outside off stump, but the angle was coming in, and the ball carried an outside-edge which went straight to the slip cordon.

The Nottingham-born pacer continued his aggressive momentum as he grabbed his 499th scalp in the form of night watchman Kemar Roach.

Overall, England bowled six overs before the end of day’s play, and West indies posted 10 runs with a loss of two wickets. Brathwaite remained unbeaten on 2, and Shai Hope was not out on 4.

The visitors need 389 more runs to win the third Test, while the hosts need eight more wickets to win the series. Broad, on the other hand, is just one scalp away to reach 500 Test wicket landmark.

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