ENG v WI, 2nd Test, Day 4 Review: Middle order fights back as England storm back into the game

A gritty display from the middle order batters saw England finish day 4 with a 2nd innings lead in excess of 300, much to the disappointment of the visitors. The smiles from day 3 vanished on Monday courtesy a collective rendition of extravagant courage and perseverance. With just one day left and England holding a  lead, the only possible results are a draw or a victory for the English.

Commencing the day at 171/3, Joe Root got to his fifty quickly and his partner Dawid Malan was keen to hold the innings together. The duo added 118 runs for the 4th wicket and just when things were going smoothly in England’s favor, skipper Root departed after scoring 72 off 111 balls. Ben Stokes entered the crease to join Malan and things just worsened for the Caribbean.

Stokes started taking on the spinners right from the outset and the intent was clear. Malan was anchoring the innings and the all-rounder was there to add a good amount of runs in a short span of time. In no time, the duo added a 50 run stand and there was barely anything coming from Malan’s willow. After adding 91 for the fifth wicket, Stokes fell prey to Roston Chase but that didn’t end their misery.

The onslaught just continued

Malan too fell soon after and there was some elation in the Windies players. Jonny Bairstow spanked few boundaries but didn’t last long on the field. After he was dismissed, Moeen Ali walked in killed any little hope that existed in the Caribbean dressing room. Yet again, the all-rounder provided some imperative fireworks and the Windies just couldn’t deal with him.

The scoring rate went over 5 an over in the second session courtesy the counter attack from Ali and Chris Woakes. Ali made a mockery of the bowlers and registered yet another half-century in an adverse situation for his side. The lead had crossed 250 and the dejected Windies shoulders began to drop a bit.

After a relatively slow start, Woakes managed to increase his strike rate as well, clobbering few boundaries in his trade mark style. Ali orchestrated the masterful counter attack from the hosts and the Headingley fans were having an absolute ball. Just when he was inching closer to a spectacular hundred, Ali attempted a lackluster slog off Bishoo and ended up giving an easy catch. He scored 84 invaluable runs off just 93 balls, just when it mattered the most.

Lethal finish from Chris Woakes

Woakes didn’t back off after the crucial wicket and he spanked few more boundaries to take England past the 300 run lead. The fast bowler was finding it difficult to stick in the side considering the amount of competition that exists for each position and he proved his worth in the lower order with a timely fifty. He and Stuart Broad added 46 runs for the 9th wicket in a very short time and everything pounded hard on the morale of the Windies.

With just 8 overs left in the day’s play, England decided to declare their innings at 490/8. They finished with a second innings lead of 321, which means that the Caribbean lads would be needing 322 runs in around 96 overs to win the game. Windies have managed to chase 300+ totals just 5 times previously and the 6th one seems highly unlikely to happen on Day 5.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell managed to play out the 6 overs left in the day’s play. The intent is clear from the Windies, they will look to defend as much as possible and seek out a possible draw. A miraculous recovery from the English now puts them in a dominating position completely out of the blue and win for them would be least surprising.

Brief Scores

1st Innings

England: 258 all out in 70.5 overs(Ben Stokes 100, Joe Root 59; Kemar Roach 4/71, Shannon Gabriel 4/51)

West Indies: 427 all out in 127 overs(Kraigg Brathwaite 134, Shai Hope 147; James Anderson 5/76)

2nd Innings

England: 490/8 declared in 141 overs(Moeen Ali 84, Joe Root 72, Chris Woakes 61*; Roston Chase 3/86)

West Indies: 5/0 in 6 overs