LONDON – An all too acquainted storyline performed out at Lord’s on Wednesday (July 10), because the West Indies suffered a primary innings batting implosion, discovering themselves battling for survival following the opening day of the primary Check in opposition to England.
Debutant speedster Gus Atkinson led England’s cost with a sensational seven-wicket haul (7-45), dismantling the Caribbean aspect for a paltry 121, about 50 minutes earlier than tea. This complete marks the West Indies’ third lowest on the historic venue in north-west London.
Opener Mikyle Louis briefly shone on debut with a high rating of 27, whereas fellow rookies Kavem Hodge (24) and Alick Athanaze (23) received begins. Nonetheless, no different batsman handed 20 because the West Indies collapsed from 88 for 3 after lunch, shedding their final seven wickets for a mere 33 runs.
England’s batsmen shortly seized management, with Zak Crawley (76) and Ollie Pope (57) pummeling half-centuries to propel the hosts to 189 for 3 on the shut, securing a lead of 68 runs. Seamer Jayden Seales, enjoying his first Check in 19 months, led the West Indies assault with two for 31, together with the essential wicket of top-scorer Crawley.
Difficult circumstances and inexperience
– Commercial –
“I feel they have been pretty bowling-friendly circumstances previous to and simply after lunch, and added to that, I feel England actually exploited the circumstances very well,” stated West Indies assistant coach, Jimmy Adams. “They have been constant, they received the ball to swing, they didn’t give us many free-bees and perhaps [there was] slightly little bit of inexperience on our half as properly, so I feel it was a mix of these points.”
Louis seemed composed in turning into the primary Check cricketer from St Kitts, hitting 4 fours and a six, an audacious whip over backward sq. off seamer Chris Woakes, throughout a 34-run opening stand with captain Kraigg Brathwaite (6). Nonetheless, Brathwaite’s dismissal to a large supply from Atkinson, simply earlier than the primary hour, triggered a collapse with three wickets falling for 10 runs.
Left-hander Kirk McKenzie (1) edged to Crawley at second slip for Atkinson’s second wicket, and Louis fell shortly earlier than lunch, taken low at third slip by Harry Brook off captain Ben Stokes. Hodge and Athanaze then mixed in the perfect stand of the innings, including 44 for the fourth wicket to take the West Indies to lunch at 61 with out additional loss.
– Commercial –
Atkinson returned to dismantle the West Indies innings, eradicating Athanaze and all-rounder Jason Holder in successive deliveries earlier than additionally prising out wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva in the identical over. Athanaze supplied an easy catch to Joe Root at first slip, Holder edged to Brook at third slip, and Da Silva inside-edged to debutant wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, all with out scoring.
England takes management
Tottering at 88 for seven, the West Indies had no restoration, regardless of Alzarri Joseph’s nine-ball 17, which included a number of lofty blows.
Seales supplied a glimmer of hope by getting Ben Duckett (3) to edge a drive behind within the last over earlier than tea, with England at 29 for one. Nonetheless, Crawley dominated after the interval, belting 14 fours in an 89-ball knock as he added 94 for the second wicket with Pope, who hit 11 boundaries in his 74-ball innings.
Holder ultimately trapped Pope in entrance, however Crawley added one other 30 runs for the third wicket with Root (15 not out) earlier than having his leg stump pegged again by a Seales yorker. Brook arrived to disclaim the West Indies any additional success, stroking an unbeaten 25 off 29 deliveries in a 36-run, unbroken fourth wicket stand with Root.
