WI vs ENG: England were rescue from a desperate situation by a 90-run last-wicket partnership between Jack Leach and Saqib Mahmood on Day 1 of the 3rd Test against the West Indies before being dismiss for 204.
England were rescue from a dire situation on day one of the third. And final Test against the West Indies by a 90-run last-wicket partnership between Jack Leach and Saqib Mahmood before being dismissed for 204 in the last over of the day.
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At 114 for nine at the start of the final session, Chris Woakes became fast bowler Jayden Seales’ third wicket. A situation that fully justified home captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s decision to bowl first on a pitch that appeared to have much more for the bowlers than in the tedious. Drawn first two Tests in Antigua and Barbuda.
However, Leach. Who rose to near-legendary status following his memorable match-winning last-wicket partnership in support of Ben Stokes in the 2019 Ashes series at Leeds. Found a reliable partner in Mahmood, and the pair rode their luck for nearly the entire final session. Frustrating the West Indies.
West Indies vs. England: On Day 1 Of The 3rd Test, Jack Leach and Saqib Mahmood Save England From Blunders
They were so well set that they easily handle the second new ball. And it was only in the final over of the day. When Mahmood was on the verge of a maiden first-class half-century. That his ambition got the better of him, and he dragged a delivery from Jermaine Blackwood onto his stumps, leaving him crestfallen for 49.
After more than two hours of vigilance, Leach was unbeaten on 41. He will be expect to bowl a lot more with his left-arm spinners in the later stages of the match.
The only other time in the 145-year history of Test cricket that the number 10 and 11 in the batting order were the top scorers in a completed Test innings was against Australia in Sydney in 1885. When Tom Garrett and Edwin Evans, again for England, were the top scorers.
“We were simply taking it in short spurts,” Mahmood recounted. “Seeing off their best bowlers first and trying to get as many runs as we could before the backup bowlers and then part-timers came on as they tried to get to that second new ball.”
“Especially with the new ball, there’s a lot of lateral movement for the bowlers out there,” he continued.
“It’s not the start we wanted, but we have a new ball at the start of the second day. And I’m hopeful we can make the most of it.”
‘Frustrated’
After bending their backs for little gain in two exhausting Test matches, the home bowlers relished the conditions in the opening two sessions. With only former captain Jason Holder missing out on the wicket-taking.
Seales’ three for 40 was the best bowling figures of the innings. With senior fast bowler Kemar Roach and lanky pacer Alzarri Joseph each taking two wickets.
The influence of Kyle Mayers, on the other hand, was a huge plus for the West Indies.
In a five-over stint in which he did not yield a single run. The medium-pacer achieved the first breakthrough of the day and then added the prized scalp of England captain Joe Root.
Mayers, who was name in the final 11 for the first time in the series, struck in his 2 over when Zak Crawley drove lazily at a full-length delivery. Which Brathwaite took at short extra-cover.
“I normally change it up in terms of trying to set the batters up over time, but I got those wickets a little earlier than I thought.”
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“I’m a natural in-swing bowler, but against great guys. I try to bowl a lot more leg-cutters because you need a lot more variety,” Mayers explained.
It’s no surprise that this pitch, which has a reputation for being run-friendly in first-class cricket, is flattening out.
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“That last-wicket partnership was frustrating, but we’re glad it’s done and we didn’t have to bat at all at the end of the day.”
