3rd Test, Day 1: WI bowl out England for 204
The England cricket team were bowled out for 204 at the end of Day 1 of the ongoing third Test against West Indies. The West Indies bowling attack completely annihilated England's top and middle-order. However, Jack Leach (49) and Saqib Mahmood (41) showed some character for the 10th wicket, to help England breach the 200-run mark. Here are the details.
How did Day 1 pan out?
Opting to bowl first, West Indies wreaked havoc onto the English batters and reduced them to 67/7 in 37.2 overs. Alex Lees (31) showed composure at the top-order. Chris Woakes (25), Saqib Mahmood (41), and Jack Leach (49) turned out to be the saviors for the visitors. The pace trio of Jayden Seales (3/40), Alzarri Joesph (2/41), and Kemar Roach (2/33) contributed for WI.
West Indies bundle out the visitors
West Indies' bowlers put up a terrific show amidst the seaming conditions. Jayden Seales spearheaded the attack and finished with figures of 3/40. Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph pocketed two scalps each. Kyle Mayers too clobbered the English batters with two wickets to his name. Off-spinner Jermaine Blackwood was effective too, with a wicket in 1.4 overs to wrap up the day's play.
Leading wicket-taker for West Indies in WTC 2021-23
Seales has been a force to deal with in red-ball cricket. The right-arm quick has got the most number of wickets as a West Indian bowler in the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23. He has picked 21 scalps across 5 matches while averaging 21.57. His best bowling figures read 5/55. He has already picked 10 wickets in the series so far.
English batters tumble in Grenada
England looked out of sorts against the bowling attack at the offer. Skipper Joe Root was dismissed for a duck on Mayers' delivery that carried straight to the wicket-keeper. Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, and Ben Foakes returned with single-digit scores as well. However, it was their tail-end that kept the score ticking in the first innings of the must-win duel.
Woakes, Mahmood, and Leach put on a gritty show
England's tail-enders kept the West Indies' bowlers at bay on Day 1. Woakes added 23 runs for the eighth-wicket stand alongside Craig Overton. He then racked another decent partnership involving Jack Leach for the ninth-wicket, before being dismissed on 25. In total, the pair added 24 runs. Then, Leach and Mahmood frustrated the Windies to add a staggering 90 runs for the last wicket.
