England showed almost as much patience as Kraigg Brathwaite, but rather less skill. Their most incisive seamer, as usual in this series, was Ben Stokes, who took the only wicket not to fall to spin. Jack Leach worked hard (44-14-97-1) but, with his bald pate, he found himself cast in the role of the curate’s egg. Dan Lawrence, surely under-used, did well to pop up with a wicket in the evening shadows.
Credit where it’s due: Martin Wright was not the only person calling for Lawrence to come on. “I’ve got to say,” writes Tom van der Gucht, “I’m a bit disappointed to not get credit for calling for Lawrence as far back as Over 97 before everyone else jumped on the bandwagon. With that in mind, and Martin Wright taking on the captain role, can I get dibs on Ashley Giles’ empty slot on the board having demonstrated my prescience?”
Tom, the job is yours. Everyone else, thanks for your company and do join me tomorrow at 2pm GMT, assuming you can face any more of this match.
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Close: West Indies' day
117th over: West Indies 288-4 (Brathwaite 109, Joseph 4) Joseph plays and misses again, so England send for more catchers – five of them now. Lawrence dishes up a half-volley and Joseph, gratefully, drives it for four. Down to the last ball of the day... and England go up for a bat-pad catch! Not out, says the ump. And he’s right – Joseph’s bat was nowhere near it.
So West Indies get through the day for the loss of only three wickets. They can still, technically, follow on – England lead by 219 – but nobody is expecting that. West Indies have had a very satisfying day, if not an exciting one. Their captain, Kraigg Brathwaite, has made an epic rearguard hundred, wand he’s still there. Jermaine Blackwood followed suit, together they put on 183, and so, after three full days, this match has yielded only 13 wickets. Test cricket has 99 problems, and the pitch is one.
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