West Indies vs England 2nd Test Day 5: Brathwaite stands firm to force a draw

Mar 20, 2022

West Indies vs England 2nd Test Day 5: Brathwaite stands firm to force a draw Image

Kraigg Brathwaite stood unflustered against England's bowlers on Day 5. Along with Jermaine Blackwood and Joshua Da Silva, he salvage a draw for West Indies in the second Test match. For the first time in over a decade, the match at Kensington Oval ended in a draw.

However, it proved to be an eventful day where England showed great urgency in the morning session to force a result. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the batters played aggressively to stretch the lead to 281 before the declaration.

Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, and Jonny Bairstow struck five sixes between them, and never let their strike rates fall below 100. Joe Root declared the innings at lunch at 185/6.

With 60 overs to survive, West Indies found themselves in a tricky spot at 39/3. Jack Leach got John Campbell early, while Saqib Mahmood dismissed both Shamarh Brooks and Nkrumah Bonner. 

Blackwood then added 50 with Brathwaite, who showed no sign of weariness and once again frustrated the bowlers with his sturdy defence. He played 184 balls for his unbeaten 54, and got a little help from Joshua Da Silva (30*), as both sides settled for a draw.

England 507/9 decl. (Joe Root 153; Veerasammy Permaul 3-126) and 185/6 decl. (Dan Lawrence 41; Veerasammy Permaul 2-29) drew with West Indies 288/4 (Kraigg Brathwaite 160; Zak Crawley 3-118) and 135/5 (Kraigg Brathwaite 56*; Jack Leach 3-36). Player of the Match: Kraigg Brathwaite.