England on top in Grenada

England's Gary Ballance in action as West Indies' Denesh Ramdin looks on. Action Images via Reuters / Jason O'Brien Livepic

England's Gary Ballance in action as West Indies' Denesh Ramdin looks on. Action Images via Reuters / Jason O'Brien Livepic

Published Apr 23, 2015

Share

Grenada - England moved within 46 runs of West Indies' first innings total as they reached 253 for three at tea on the third day of the second test in Grenada on Thursday.

The tourists added 110 runs in the afternoon for the loss of two wickets and with Gary Ballance (47) and Joe Root (51) unbeaten, they will hope to power on in the third session of the day.

Skipper Alastair Cook moved on to 76 before he was bowled by Shannon Gabriel, dragging a bottom edge on to the stumps and leaving him still searching for his first test century in almost two years.

Gabriel, playing in this match in place of the injured Jerome Taylor, then forced Ian Bell (one) to play the ball on to his stumps following an ill-judged attempt to cut.

The two strikes offered encouragement to a West Indies attack that bowled with discipline on a wicket that is good for batting.

But the confident Root and Ballance stopped any momentum shift towards the hosts and picked up the scoring tempo.

Cook's 125-run opening partnership with Jonathan Trott (59) laid the foundations for England.

Trott was dismissed when he edged a full ball from leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo to Jermaine Blackwood at second slip.

It was England's first century opening stand since March 2013.

Reuters

Related Topics: