Chris Woakes rattles Jermaine Blackwood’s woodwork with a peach

Jermaine Blackwood didn’t get a century in the opening Test against England at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. But his 95 in the fourth innings made sure that the West Indies chased down 200, taking his team to an important 1-0 lead in the three-match series. In the first innings, he got out, playing a lofted drive off Dominic Bess, but he managed to make amends in the second.

In the second Test at the Old Trafford in Manchester, he got out on a duck in the first innings. Yet again, it was in the second innings that he went on to show his class. Though Jason Holder and Co lost the Test by 113 runs, Blackwood didn’t flatter to deceive. He scored 55 runs off 88 balls and set up a 100-run stand with Shamarh Brooks after the visiting team lost some early wickets.

Jermaine Blackwood falters

In the third Test, a lot was expected of him, being one of the in-form West Indies batsmen. However, yet another time in the first innings, he fell cheaply. He came to bat after the Caribbeans were reduced to 59 for four after 25.3 overs. The right-hander looked determined to stave off the English bowling attack. During his stay in the middle, he lost Roston Chase, who scored nine, as his partner.

But after toiling hard, Blackwood fell prey to Chris Woakes. In the third ball of the 43rd over, Blackwood played all around an in-dipper from the Three Lions’ fast bowler. Woakes churned out a full-length ball and the batter tried to hit the ball through the line. To his misfortune, the 28-year-old Blackwood missed it all together and the leather crashed into the stumps.

Here’s the video: –

As far as the deciding match goes, West Indies are in dire straits. After the first three day’s play, they need 389 runs to win with eight wickets left in their last innings. They have already lost John Campbell and Kemar Roach to Stuart Broad and have a tough task ahead of them.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope are in the middle with the Caribbeans straining to save the Test. There are also forecasts of rain going into the last two days.