West Indies vs England, 1st Test Day 2: Holder, Bonner hold fort after middle order collapse

Mar 09, 2022

West Indies vs England, 1st Test Day 2: Holder, Bonner hold fort after middle order collapse Image

West Indies seemed to have squandered a solid start from their openers before a resistance from Nkrumah Bonner and Jason Holder helped them finish Day 2 of the first Test match on 202/4. They still trail England by 109 runs. 

The first session belonged to West Indies. They bowled out England within an hour and walked off to lunch unscathed on 44. Jonny Bairstow's dismissal on 140 marked the end of England's innings at 311 – a reasonable recovery from 48/4.

Chris Woakes (28) helped Bairstow add 71 for the seventh wicket before getting dismissed by Jayden Seales. Both Seales (4-79) and Alzarri Joseph claimed two wickets each on Day 2. 

Woakes and Craig Overton were unable to exert any pressure on the West Indies openers, who went on almost at four an over. Campbell's stroke-filled 35 came to an end after he edged one to Ben Foakes off Overton. 

With seven fours and a six, Kraigg Brathwaite reached an uncharacteristically fast fifty in just 62 balls, but soon fell to Mark Wood for 55. Three overs later Ben Stokes got Shamarh Brooks (18). Jermaine Blackwood's dismissal then reduced them to 127/4. 

Bonner and Holder led the recovery with an unbroken 75-run stand. Holder has struck six fours and a six in his 43, while Bonner will resume on 34. 

England 311 (Jonny Bairstow 140; Jayden Seales 4-79) lead West Indies 202/4 (Kraigg Brathwaite 55, Ben Stokes 1-20) by 109 runs.