England batsman Joe Root pulls en route to an unbeaten 182 during day four of the second Test against the West Indies at the Grenada National Stadium in Saint George’s. (AFP)
AFP/Grenada
James Anderson struck early for England to have the West Indies at 22 for one at lunch in their second innings after the tourists built a first innings lead of 165 on the fourth day of the second Test yesterday.
Anderson’s dismissal of local player Devon Smith, bowled off the inside-edge for just two, made amends in a small way for the careless manner in which he was run out to end the England innings at 464 and leave Joe Root unbeaten on 182.
His was one of three run outs in the innings, only the third time in 138 years of Test cricket that England have had that many run out dismissals in a single innings. Root carried on from the previous day with his positive, aggressive style of play, especially as the wickets continued to fall at the other end.
He hoisted two more sixes and stroked four additional boundaries in a commanding knock that was fully deserving of a double-hundred, except that his teammates appeared unwilling to hang around with him for any length of time.
Resuming at 373 for six and looking to take the lead closer to the 200-run mark, Root’s overnight partner, Jos Buttler, charged down the pitch at Devendra Bishoo to be stumped within the first half-hour.
Chris Jordan helped the senior batsman in putting on 39 runs for the eighth wicket before he was adjudged run out for 16 by television umpire Billy Bowden, the New Zealand official taking an inordinately long time poring over several replays from various angles before arriving at the decision.
Stuart Broad’s poor form continued with his second “duck” in as many innings, top-edging a sweep at Bishoo for Smith to take the catch running back from first slip.
In his first bowl in Test cricket for three years, the leg-spinner finished with figures of four for 177 from 51 overs.
Last-man Anderson appeared inclined to stay with Root, who cleverly pushed the score along and manoeuvred the strike as 33 runs were added for the final wicket.
However the tailender, called through for a sharp second run, seemed to give up when a proper effort would have seen him home.
While the West Indies players were relieved that the innings was finally over, it left them with a tricky six overs to the interval.
It was enough time for Anderson to dispose of Smith but new batsman Darren Bravo took a liking to Moeen Ali, taking two boundaries off the off-spinner in the last over before the break.
