Then weather lends tourists helping hand

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ALASTAIR COOK bagged the fourth double ton of his Test career as England rammed home their advantage against the West Indies.

England’s all-time leading run-scorer racked up a monster innings of 243 that lasted nine hours and 22 minutes.

Cook’s runs were the bedrock of England’s mammoth total of 514-8 and it was his dismissal after 406 balls that triggered the declaration 40 minutes before tea on the second day of this first-ever home day-night Test.

That allowed Jimmy Anderson, using this pink ball as effectively as the traditional red, to dismiss opener Kraigg Brathwaite before the tourists had even put a run on the board.

West Indies battled through to tea without further loss despite Anderson tormenting debutant Kyle Hope, who had a huge lbw appeal against him first ball, and Keiran Powell.

Escaped

There was also time for two dropped catches either side of the interval.

Stuart Broad was the unlucky bowler as Powell was dropped in the gully by Ben Stokes on two and Hope was reprieved when Moeen Ali put down a chance at third slip.

By the time rain halted play shortly before 7.30pm the West Indies had progressed to 44-1, still a massive deficit of 470 runs.

At least the downpour gave England’s opponents some respite. This threematch series looks unlikely to challenge England on this evidence as they warm up for tougher tests against Australia in this winter’s Ashes.

The lopsided nature of this Edgbaston contest perhaps takes the shine off the runs scored by Dawid Malan, who registered his maiden Test half-century during a first session which England once again dominated.

Malan was out for 65 just before tea after playing a poor shot to the part-time spin of Roston Chase and being caught at slip.

But the Middlesex batsman was glad to make some runs after struggling in his debut series against South Africa.

Master

He said: “It was nice to hit a few in the middle and feel a bit more composed at the crease.

“In the back of my mind I always knew it was going to turn around. It was nice to have a meaningful contribution.”

Praising partner Cook, he added: “To watch how a master goes to work and compiles his runs shows you what you need to do to be successful at this level.”

After the interval England’s aggressive middle order of Stokes, Moeen and Jonny Bairstow all fell trying to add quick runs, before Cook’s dismissal signalled the declaration.