GROS ISLET, St Lucia – England took complete control of the third Test against the West Indies on day two yesterday, thanks mainly to the bowling exploits of fast bowler Mark Wood and spinner Moeen Ali.
On a day in which 16 wickets fell, the tourists established a healthy first innings lead of 123 runs, which they duly stretched to 142 having reached 19-0 in their second innings.
The hosts had initially wrestled the momentum away from England in the opening session, with Kemar Roach grabbing four quick wickets to help bowl England out for 277 after they had resumed on 231 for four.
Roach ended with four for 48, as England lost their last six wickets for 46 runs. He has 17 scalps in the series.
But a fiery Wood grabbed his first five-wicket haul in Tests and Ali snagged four wickets to rout the Windies for 154 and give England a sizeable lead.
It was a pathetic batting display from the West Indies, with only John Campbell and Shane Dowrich putting up significant resistance.
Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and Campbell gave the West Indies a good foundation with a 57-run opening stand. However, once they fell within two balls of each other, the middle order collapsed.
Brathwaite’s struggle against the off-spin of Ali continued when he tried to hit him out of the ground but found Jimmy Anderson on the boundary to fall for 12.
Next ball, Ali trapped Campbell leg before wicket for 41 to leave the score 57 for two. Campbell asked for a review of the decision but replays showed the ball crashing into leg stump.(CMC)
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