Windies in control after Braithwaite, Hope tons

LEEDS: Magnificent centuries from opener Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope put West Indies in a commanding position against England on the second day of the second Test at Headingly yesterday.

Brathwaite was joined by Hope during a tricky morning session for the visitors when they were 35-3 in reply to England’s 258, and the pair shared a 246-run partnership as West Indies, written off after a humiliating innings-and-209runs defeat in the first Test, reached stumps on 329-5, a lead of 71.

Brathwaite was eventually bowled by Stuart Broad for 134, a textbook innings which contained 17 fours and two sixes, the second of which took him to his sixth Test century.

Roston Chase followed shortly afterwards but Hope moved on to 147 and was joined by Jermaine Blackwood who played aggressively to score 21 not out.

West Indies resumed on a muggy morning on 19-1, and with James Anderson swinging the ball at will, another West Indies collapse looked on the cards as two early wickets fell.

Brathwaite was then joined by Hope and the duo began to chip away at England’s total, playing with discipline and verve to put away any loose balls from England’s attack.

The afternoon session belonged to West Indies as Brathwaite completed his century by launching part-time spinner Tom Westley over long-on for a huge six. Hope’s maiden Test century arrived after pulling Ben Stokes for a boundary, he nudged a single off his hip from the following ball. – Reuters