Ben Stokes sets up thrilling final day at Old Trafford as England set West Indies 312 to win

Dom Bess bowls Jason Holder to leave England needing just two more wickets in the final session to win the second Test against West Indies

  • England need two more wickets to defeat West Indies and level the Test series
  • The hosts declared with a 311 run lead at Old Trafford after Ben Stokes’ heroics
  • West Indies have 85 overs to bat but suffered three early losses before lunch
  • Sam Curran and Dom Bess were among the wickets for England after tea

England are closing in on a series-levelling win and need two more wickets against West Indies after Dom Bess bowled the visitors’ last recognised batsman Jason Holder. 

The West Indies captain was dismissed for a patient 35 after being bowled through the gate by the England off-spinner, seven overs after Sam Curran had ended Shamarh Brooks’ resistance by trapping him lbw.

The hosts resumed day five 219 ahead on 37 for two, and piled on 92 runs in 11 overs with improvised opener Ben Stokes leading the charge – and the talisman also took the crucial wicket of Jermaine Blackwood before tea.

England are closing in on a series-levelling win after Dom Bess bowled Jason Holder

England are closing in on a series-levelling win after Dom Bess bowled Jason Holder

Sam Curran ended Shamarh Brooks' gutsy innings after trapping the West Indian LBW

Sam Curran ended Shamarh Brooks’ gutsy innings after trapping the West Indian LBW

Joe Root had called in his team with a lead of 311, with West Indies experiencing a nightmare start after Stuart Broad skittled both John Campbell and Shai Hope. 

Broad then struck again shortly after lunch to dismiss Roston Chase with a delivery which nipped back in. 

He had also removed opener Campbell with the fourth delivery of the innings. The Jamaican had just got off the mark with a sweet driven four but got a thin edge as he went for more of the same. 

A decidedly muted appeal for caught behind was rejected, with not a flicker of interest from wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, but Root opted to call for DRS at the final moment.

Technology showed a spike on UltraEdge and England were off and running at seven for one. 

England have taken five wickets in their bid to level the series with West Indies at Old Trafford

England have taken five wickets in their bid to level the series with West Indies at Old Trafford

Stuart Broad has struck three times to dismiss John Campbell, Shai Hope and Roston Chase

Stuart Broad has struck three times to dismiss John Campbell, Shai Hope and Roston Chase

Chris Woakes also crucially got in on the act after pinning Kraigg Brathwaite lbw for 12

Chris Woakes also crucially got in on the act after pinning Kraigg Brathwaite lbw for 12

England continued to make the new ball talk, ramming home their advantage as the West Indies sank before lunch. 

Chris Woakes earned fair reward for a measured spell by grabbing the key wicket of Kraigg Brathwaite at the end of his fourth over. He is the most dogged batsman in the touring line-up but here he chewed through only 23 balls, Woakes nipping one in off the pitch and pinning him lbw for 12. 

At 23 for three, the West Indies hobbled into the break. 

Woakes later clinched his 100th Test wicket in the final session to tighten England’s grip in Manchester. He rapped Shane Dowrich on the pads, who was forced to walk after a review. 

The hosts declared with a lead of 311 in the morning, leaving 85 overs for their bowlers to strike

The hosts declared with a lead of 311 in the morning, leaving 85 overs for their bowlers to strike

Joe Root waved England in after just under an hour with Ben Stokes having led from the fore

Joe Root waved England in after just under an hour with Ben Stokes having led from the fore

Stokes was found in destructive form at the crease and on bowling duties. His superb short ball forced Blackwood to send the ball into the air, and Jos Buttler took a diving catch.

His scoring was similarly impressive earlier in the day, having helped himself to three big sixes over long-off and four boundaries despite the eight fielders patrolling the boundary. 

With scores of 43, 46 and 176 already in the bag, the all-rounder now has a batting average of 114.33 in the series to go with seven wickets.

Captain Root was run out attempting to give him the strike on 22, with Ollie Pope 12no at the end. Root’s decision to then wave in England after just under an hour left 85 overs for his bowlers to level the series. 

 

source: dailymail.co.uk