Brathwaite, Bravo lead Windies fightback

Kraigg Brathwaite and Darren Bravo took the West Indies to 122 for one in their second innings at tea on the fourth day of the second Test against England at Grenada's National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Trailing on first innings by 165 runs after the tourists were dismissed for 464, the home side went into the final period needing another 43 runs to erase the deficit.

Known for his stodgy defiance, Brathwaite actually outscored the more flamboyant Bravo in getting to 68 in a second-wicket partnership that had realised 119 runs by the break.

Bravo will resume on 47, the pair having frustrated England on a placid pitch in putting on exactly 100 runs in the middle session of the day.

They had come together just before the end of the morning session when James Anderson dismissed local star Devon Smith, bowled off the inside-edge for just two.

His early strike made amends in a small way for the careless manner in which he was run out to end the England innings and leave Joe Root unbeaten on 182.

Anderson’s was one of three run outs, only the third time in 138 years of Test cricket that England have had that many run out dismissals in a single innings.

Root carried on from the previous day with his positive, aggressive style of play, especially as the wickets continued to fall at the other end.
He hoisted two more sixes and stroked four additional boundaries in a commanding knock that was fully deserving of a double-hundred, except that his teammates appeared unwilling to hang around with him for any length of time.

Resuming at 373 for six and looking to take the lead closer to the 200-run mark, Root’s overnight partner, Jos Buttler, charged down the pitch at Devendra Bishoo to be stumped within the first half-hour of the morning.

Chris Jordan helped the senior batsman in putting on 39 runs for the eighth wicket before he was adjudged run out for 16 by television umpire Billy Bowden.

Stuart Broad’s poor form continued with his second “duck” in as many innings, top-edging a sweep at Bishoo for Smith to take the catch running back from first slip.

In his first bowl in Test cricket for three years, the leg-spinner finished with figures of four for 177 from 51 overs.

Last-man Anderson appeared inclined to stay with Root, who cleverly pushed the score along and manoeuvred the strike as 33 runs were added for the final wicket.

However the tailender, called through for a sharp second run, seemed to give up when a proper effort would have seen him home.
Source: AFP