Summary of England vs West Indies Day 2 Analysis –
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Day 2 Morning Session
The West Indies were chary and bold in their approach. They made sure that they were punishing the bad balls. Captain Kraigg Braithwaite, along with John Campbell, were quite bang on target.
At the drinks break, the score was 41-0. The elegant left-handed batter was in beast mode as he scored 30 runs. The way the left-handed batter was punishing the bowlers was a treat to watch.
Just when it looked like the West Indies were in the ascendancy, England made a come-back and took 3 wickets. The wickets were taken by Craig Overton, Saqib Mahmood, and the flamboyant Ben Stokes.
The 3 wickets changed the course of the match. All of a sudden, the score was reduced to 71-3 in 25 overs. England sensed that they had a chance to stamp out their authority.
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Day 2 Afternoon Sessions
The afternoon session was expected to be a pivotal one. The West Indies’ score went from bad to worse. The way Root rotated his bowlers was just amazing, as he made sure to give each bowler a short spell.
During the drinks break, the score of the West Indies was 106-6. It was looking as if England would get a sizeable lead of 50 runs.
There was some respite for Caribbean batters as the score at the end of the afternoon session was 134-7.
The uniqueness of Britishers’ bowling this time was that they hunted in a pack, which made things easier. The pick of the bowlers in the afternoon session was the experienced Chris Woakes, who took 3 wickets.
His experience paid off as he broke the back of the West Indies batting lineup with an immaculate and impeccable line and length.
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Day 2 Evening Sessions
The evening session was critical as Joshua da Silva was playing with the tail-enders. He got good support from the lanky Pacer, Alzarri Joseph. Joseph scored 28 runs in 59 balls. His knock proved to be decisive as he took the pressure off Joshua.
Then the wicket-keeper got his eye in and was involved in a huge partnership of 57 runs. He struck one of the most crucial knocks of 54 runs in 152 balls.
He got ample support from the senior statesman, Kemar Roach, as Roach scored 25 runs in 63 balls. Joe Root was seen as dejected as he had given the Caribbean a strong chance to make a comeback.
The lead as of now is 28 runs, which is a lot as the pitch is no less than a minefield. England’s bowlers need to pull their socks up. A 50 runs lead would seal the game for the West Indies.
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What lies ahead for the West Indies and England on Day 3
It’s crystal clear that this test match would produce a result, not like the first two test matches, which ended in a draw. West Indies’ lead is 28 runs and they would hope that Joshua and Roach bat till the end of the morning session.
The role of Root becomes extremely important as he needs to be smart here as a short spell has to be productive. Holder would like to prove a point by leading the attack after he had a forgettable outing with the bat in hand.
All in all, we are in for a spectacular Day 3 where the momentum currently lies in the hands of the Caribbean. If England wants to make a comeback, then they need to score 300+ runs batting, or else the West Indies will easily chase down 200 odd runs. Only time will tell how things unfold on the 3rd day of the inaugural Richards-Botham Trophy 2022.
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Joshua da Silva’s brilliance with the bat
The wicket-keeper batter, Joshua, showcased his batting credentials by bailing out the West Indies from a precarious position. He not only played one of the finest innings but also saved his batting career.
They were looking for a proper wicket-keeper batter, as they had earlier tried Shai Hope, who had lost his touch, but now they would be happy that they found a silent assassin.
At the time Joshua came to the crease, the team was in a dangerous state, but he got support from Joseph and Roach, who contributed 20 odd runs each.
The wicket-keeper batter played out of his skin as he scored 54 runs in 152 balls. Playing 152 balls speaks a lot about his temperament, as the pitch had started to misbehave on the 1st day. He was seen playing safely and focused on rotating the strike and scored four 4s.
