On the first day of the third and final test match between the West Indies and England at Edgbaston on Friday, Kraigg Brathwaite (31) hit an unbeaten 56 as the tourists reached 97 for three at lunch. However, they will be disappointed that they lost wickets in the late innings, which had a negative impact on their session.
After a strong beginning in which they were able to thwart the home bowling attack in the opening hour, Brathwaite will restart the second session with the goal of anchoring his team’s innings. This comes after the loss of Alick Athanaze on the stroke of lunch, which is a further setback following a fine start in which they accomplished this.
Although the West Indies won the toss and chose to bat on what appeared to be a flat track, they were put through a rigorous examination by England’s seamers, who beat the bat on multiple times with swing and seam. The West Indies are currently trailing England in the series by a score of 2-0.
The tourists were able to establish a 76-run opening stand because the hosts gave in to the temptation to bowl too short when fuller deliveries were the source of the most anxiety.
Mark Wood uprooted the middle stump of Kirk McKenzie, putting an end to his speedy 12 from nine deliveries that contained three fours. Mikyle Louis struck a patient 26 before he edged seamer Gus Atkinson to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. Kirk McKenzie’s rapid 12 from nine deliveries was also ending.
At the time, Athanaze had already hit two runs when he sliced a delivery from Atkinson onto his stumps.
The fact that Brathwaite was able to achieve scores of 47 and 48 in the second exam will be a source of relief for him. This is the thirty-first time that he has achieved this milestone in tests, and he has a total of twelve hundred.
Due to the fact that the tourists have been bowled out for 143 or less in three of their four innings so far in the series, he will be a very important player for the remainder of the innings.
England won the first two tests with a resounding victory, winning at Lord’s by an innings and 114 runs and at Trent Bridge by 241 runs.