Century makers -- Brathwaite and Hope defy England
LEEDS, United Kingdom, Aug 26, 2017 (AFP) - Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope scored dominating century which enabled the West Indies end the second of their Test commanding position against England at Headingley on Saturday.
The West Indies were 329 for 5 in reply to England's first innings 258 at the end of the second day. Finally when seamer Stewart Board ruffled up Brathwaite’s stumps he had scored 134 runs in 249 balls with seventeen fours and two sixes and the partnership between them had yielded 246 runs. The Third West Indian wicket fell with the score reading a healthy 281 for 4.
Next in Roston Chase did last long. He was out for 5. However Brathwaite’s partner twenty threeold Shai Hope was unbeaten on 147 in 252 balls with 23 fours, while Jermaine Blackwood was not out on 21. West Indies led by 71 runs with five wickets still intact.
The fourth-wicket duo had come together with West Indies in trouble at 35 for three after James Anderson had dismissed Kyle Hope, Shai's older brother, on his way to brilliant lunch figures of three wickets for 10 runs in 12 overs.
That left Anderson just five shy of becoming the first England bowler to take 500 Test wickets and the sixth overall.
But not even Anderson could make fur ther inroads as Brathwaite and Shai Hope batted through the second session.
Their partnership made England's decision to drop third seamer Toby Roland-Jones look all the more curious.
Roland-Jones had taken 14 wickets in three Tests at an average of under 20 apiece since making his debut in England's preceding 3- 1 home series win over South Africa.
But despite those fine figures he was omitted at Headingley, with England recalling the fit- again Chris Woakes, ostensibly in a bid to give the Warwickshire all-rounder game time ahead of the upcoming Ashes tour of Australia.
But Woakes too often bowled short on a Headingley pitch where bowlers have traditionally been rewarded for maintaining a fuller length and at tea he had figures of none for 40 in 11 overs. The West Indies found runs hard to come by while Anderson was bowling under grey skies.
But after Anderson dismissed nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo, caught behind for his overnight one, and had Kyle Hope (three) well taken at second slip by England captain Joe Root, the tourists hit back when the swing specialist was given a breather.
- Decisions overturned -
Brathwaite and Shai Hope were still in the middle when conditions for batting improved as the sun broke through.
The West Indies resumed on their overnight 19 for one, having produced a much- improved bowling display following a humiliating innings and 209- run defeat at Edgbaston last week that left them 1-0 down in the three-match series.
Brathwaite, who resumed on 13 not out, successfully reviewed lbw decisions on 35 and 46, after first getting an inside edge to Stuart Broad and being outside off stump playing a shot when given out to off-spinner Moeen Ali.
With the very next ball after Ali's appeal was overturned, Brathwaite drove him for six to go to fifty. After lunch, Shai Hope completed his fifty when he drove Woakes down the ground for his ninth four in 72 balls.
On 60, Shai Hope was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Ben Stokes. But he showed no sign of being shaken up. He was, however, dropped on 72 when Mark Stoneman, back on his heels at short leg, couldn't hold on to a whip off Ali.
In desperation, Root gave the last over before tea to part-time spinner Tom Westley. Having reached his fifty with a six, Brathwaite went to his hundred with another when he lofted Westley's penultimate ball before the interval high over longon.
It was a stylish way for the 24- year- old to complete his sixth hundred in 39 Tests off 189 balls, also including 13 fours after over four-and-a-half hours at the crease.