After the crucial addition of runs with the willow, England’s Jofra Archer produced a top-quality opening spell to take England on a driving seat on Day 5 of the first Test at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
England resumed their second innings at 284/8 – a lead of 170 – with tail-enders Archer and Mark Wood at the crease, but Wood failed to offer the required resistance. He was the first wicket to fall on the final day.
Wood edged pacer Shannon Gabriel to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and the hosts were reduced to 303/9. Ten runs later, England were bowled out in their second innings setting the West Indies a competitive target of 200 to win the first Test.
Archer, who had taken England past the 300-run mark with a vital 23 run knock, opened floodgates for England when they came in the middle to defend the target. The right-arm speedster first sent Kraigg Brathwaite back to the pavilion, and then in the very next over, he dismissed Shamarh Brooks to pick back-to-back wickets for England.
In the sixth over of West Indies second innings, Archer first unsettled Brathwaite with his back of a length deliveries. Brathwaite then anticipating a short ball, but Archer bowled a good length delivery which seamed in the air and came back in a bit. Brathwaite played a defensive shot but didn’t use his feet. As a result, he got an under edge which rolled back to hit the bails.
Here is the video:
A brilliant start! @JofraArcher gets his reward! 🙌
Scorecard & Videos: https://t.co/ldtEXLDT8V#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/v8JmXB6ryh
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 12, 2020
Archer provided another breakthrough when he came to bowl his next over. This time, the Barbadian bowler delivered a full and straight ball with a hint of inswing. Brooks, instead of taking it in a straight line, played across and ended up missing the ball completely. It struck on the pads, and straightaway umpire adjudged him lbw.
Here is the video:
HE'S ON 🔥🔥🔥
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/ldtEXLDT8V#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/cjwx02DdOV
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 12, 2020
As if the double-trouble was not enough for the visitors, English paceman Wood too joined the party as he shattered the stumps of Shai Hope. Wood bowled a good length delivery which nipped back in, took the thigh pad and knocked out the off stump.
West Indies reached 35/3 after 15 overs as the umpires called for a lunch break. The tourists now need 165 runs to win the contest with seven wickets in hand.
