IT’S HOPE ORGORY FOR WINDIES

Kyle, Powell & Co have chance to silence critics and save series

FORTY FOUR just might be the West Indies’ lucky number as they repelled England’s swing masters to set up a day/ night of destiny.

With England declaring on 514-8 thanks largely to Alastair Cook’s 243, the scoreboard read 44-1 when rain sent the players scurrying from the field.

The lights had already started to take effect as James Anderson and Stuart Broad sent down eight overs apiece trying to find out just how dangerous they might be in the twilight zone.

Most expected to see them run through the tourists’ line-up like Usain Bolt used to go through the field in a World Championships.

But sport does not always deliver what you expect and with two of England’s greatest fast bowlers straining at the leash, both Kieran Powell and Kyle Hope resisted and refused to budge facing 44 balls each and remaining not out at the close.

Make no mistake, facing up to two bowlers with 721 Test wickets together, under leaden skies and in the artificial light is not easy.

But having got through the tricky part before the rain fell, they have given themselves a chance to prove a few people wrong in the sunshine.

“It was a big boost for us,” said Roston Chase, who had earlier taken 4-113. “Kieran is coming off a good warm-up match and is full of confidence.

“Even though we lost an early wicket, we are feeling confident and having got through that period we should look to do our best in the sunshine on day three.”

And after making his maiden 50 in Test cricket, Dawid Malan agreed that batting in the afternoon is a considerably more straightforward task than under the lights.

“It definitely swung a lot more at night,” said Malan, who ended up with 65. “It felt like things were happening a lot quicker under lights which might be because you’re not used to it. Fortunately I got through the new-ball period at twilight the day before and went well during the day.

“I needed a score so it was nice to hit a few more in the middle and feel composed at the crease.”

Now it is up to the West Indies to do the same after being battered and bruised in the field. When Kraigg Brathwaite was dismissed for a duck from just the 14th ball of the innings by Anderson, fears that England would embarrass their visitors within a session were very real. But Powell and Hope not only found a way to survive, they counterpunched to good effect, finding the boundary as they put away the loose balls.

There were a couple of chances though when Powell edged Broad into the gully only to see the usually reliable Ben Stokes drop a simple chance (above) before Moeen Ali dropped Hope at third slip.

Can they make their good fortune count today?