England move 54 runs ahead of West Indies at tea with seven wickets in hand after Dom Sibley hit 50 as Ben Stokes’ men look to set a testing chase for the tourists in the first Test
- England reached tea on day four of the first Test with West Indies on 168-3
- Rory Burns and Dom Sibley had built a strong opening partnership for England
- But Burns was eventually dismissed by Roston Chase after poor concentration
- Sibley had reached his half-century but then edged behind Shannon Gabriel
- Joe Denly also fell victim to an innocuous delivery after clipping to mid-wicket
England began building their slim lead over West Indies on day four of the first Test in Southampton after edging 54 runs in front – but lost Joe Denly cheaply before tea.
Denly had departed for 29 and handed Jason Holder a simple catch after clipping to mid-wicket, putting the pressure on stand-in skipper Ben Stokes to steady England’s efforts at the crease.
Dom Sibley’s wicket also fell after he brought up his half-century, moving across the stumps and glancing his shot fine down the legside. Shane Dowrich took the catch, but Zak Crawley, despite his initial wobble, helped calm down the hosts.
England reached England reached tea on day four of the first Test with West Indies on 168-3
Dom Sibley and Joe Denly’s wickets both fell in the afternoon but England moved into the lead
Rory Burns fell softly after an opening stand of 72 while Sibley made considerable inroads into the West Indies’ lead.
The fourth day at the Ageas Bowl began with the home side 99 behind after the opening duo survived a challenging previous evening and by lunch they were 35 short on 79 for one.
They carefully chalked 57 off the tab in the morning session, despite the occasional sign of variable bounce, before a long spell of tight bowling ended with Burns leaning back and cutting Roston Chase straight to the catcher at backward point.
England enjoyed a good morning session in their bid to chase down the 318 set by the tourists
Rory Burns and Dom Sibley built a strong opening partnership for the hosts at the Ageas Bowl
But Burns was dismissed on 42 from an innocuous ball from Roston Chase just before lunch
It was a soft way for a composed knock of 42 to end, with Sibley reaching the break at 31 not out and number three Denly fresh at the crease.
England’s opening partnership has been put back together after six months apart, Burns having missed the previous three Tests with ruptured ankle ligaments, but had a brief reunion on day one when Sibley was bowled for a second over duck.
Both men got up and running with boundaries in the sixth over of the morning, Burns driving Shannon Gabriel square for four and Sibley working him through mid-wicket.
England recorded their highest opening stand in a home Test in 20 games in Southampton
West Indies captain Jason Holder brought himself on to break up the England partnership
Sibley had been struck on the elbow from Holder’s wicked delivery and required attention
The West Indies attack was short of their best in the opening hour, with Sibley secure and Burns timing the ball well. The pitch was beginning to offer some assistance, though, Holder getting one to keep worryingly low to Burns before another ball leapt from a length at Sibley and drew blood from the right-hander’s elbow.
Things tightened up considerably in the second half of the session, Chase with a tight spell of off-spin backed up by Holder and Alazarri Joseph at the Pavilion End.
After just 11 runs in 13 overs, Burns’ patience snapped and he went after Chase outside off stump. He got underneath the ball but punched directly to John Campbell behind square. He hung his head as the tourists celebrated, a soft end to a composed stay.
The tourists ensured England trailed by 114 runs after a gloomy and chastening first innings