West Indies bowl

England out for 277

Gros-islet: West Indies were two without loss at lunch on Sunday after dismissing England for 277 on the second day of the third and final Test at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia. West Indies hold a 2-0 lead in the series following victories by 381 runs in Barbados and by 10 wickets in Antigua. Earlier, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes featured in England’s best partnership of a deeply disappointing series as they lifted their team to 231 for four at stumps on the opening day. Put in to bat by West Indies stand-in captain Kraigg Brathwaite, and seeking to regain some lost prestige after already surrendering the series and the Wisden Trophy, the fifthwicket pair played with increasing fluency through an extended final session in putting on 124 runs to the close of play at the Darren Sammy Stadium. It was England’s first century partnership of the series with Buttler getting to 67 and Stokes reaching 62 at the close. Both made the most of lucky escapes. Buttler’s first scoring shot was an edge off Shannon Gabriel to which a leaping Shimron Hetmyer at second slip could only get his fingertips. Stokes was caught and bowled on 52 by Alzarri Joseph.

Brief scores: England 277 in 101.5 overs (B. Stokes 79, J. Buttler 67; K. Roach 4/48, S. Gabriel 2/49) vs West Indies two for no loss.