July 25, 2020, 6:21 p.m.
West Indies had an excellent first hour – in which time Kemar Roach took his magical 200th Test wicket, but they failed to combat England’s bowlers later in the day and closed Day 2 of the third Test under pressure.
Roach, the 32-year-old joined the top echelons of West Indies bowling when he forced Chris Woakes to drag on a delivery from outside off stump. Roach ended the innings with 4-72 as England were bowled out for 369 just before lunch. To celebrate the wicket Roach raised the ball in his right hand and then raise his left hand with a clenched fist.
West Indies then found the going tough with the bat in the second and third sessions and ended a difficult day on 137-6 – 232 behind England’s score. When play resumes on Sunday, skipper Jason Holder will be on 24 not out and with him keeper Shane Dowrich unbeaten on 10.
Roach made his Test debut back in 2009 against Bangladesh at Arnos Vale in St Vincent and his first wicket was left-hander Shakib al-Hasan. His 100th wicket was B.J Watling of New Zealand in the second innings of the third Test at Kensington Oval in June, 2014.
“It feels great to get to 200 wickets. It’s something I worked hard towards reaching this milestone and the hard work has paid off. When I look at the list of great West Indians to take over 200 it feel really special to be on that list. Some truly amazing bowlers in the history of the game,” Roach said.
Playing his 59th Test match, Roach joins the elite list of West Indies bowling and is now ninth on the all-time list.
Full list:
Courtney Walsh – 519 wickets
Sir Curtly Ambrose – 405 wickets
Malcolm Marshall – 376 wickets
Lance Gibbs – 309 wickets
Joel Garner – 259 wickets
Michael Holding – 249 wickets
Sir Garfield Sobers – 235 wickets
Sir Andy Roberts – 202 wickets
Kemar Roach – 201 wickets
Shannon Gabriel was also excellent alongside Roach in the first hour. He uprooted Ollie Pope’s off stump with a beauty and then recorded his 300th first-class wicket when Jos Buttler edged to second slip. Gabriel joined an outstanding list of bowlers from Trinidad & Tobago to take over 300 first-class wickets.
Full list:
Sonny Ramadhin – 758 wickets
Ian Bishop – 549 wickets
Tony Gray – 451 wickets
Sir Learie Constantine – 439 wickets
Rangy Nanan – 366 wickets
Raphick Jumadeen 347
Inshan Ali – 328 wickets
Shannon Gabriel – 300 wickets
Following the bowling efforts which saw England lose four wickets for 18 runs, Stuart Broad swung the match in England’s favor. He batted bravely to make a whirlwind half century and then took two wickets to rock the West Indies batting. England were at one stage 280-8 but Broad smashed 62 off 45 balls and later took the wickets of Kraigg Brathwaite and Roston Chase – the West Indies’ leading batsman in the series – to end with 2-17.
-CWI
