[Lord Snooty]

Not sure how long Sibley's been batting now, but when he started this innings Roston Chase had hair.

And the one time he gives it a wallop, he gets caught.

[themaclad]

Second Test, Emirates Old Trafford (day two of five)
England 469-9 dec: Stokes 176, Sibley 120, Chase 5-172
West Indies 32-1
West Indies trail by 437

Ben Stokes and Dom Sibley completed centuries to move England into a dominant position on day two of the second Test against West Indies.

Stokes continued his stellar form - this was his fourth hundred in 12 Tests - and played some sparkling strokes after reaching three figures before falling for a superb 176.

Opener Sibley picked up where he left off on day one, doggedly occupying the crease for a second Test ton before he too looked accelerate and was caught in the deep on the leg side for 120.

Between them, the fourth-wicket pair shared 260, England's largest partnership on home soil for nine years.



Jos Buttler added 40 before England finally declared on 469-9 at Emirates Old Trafford.

Off-spinner Roston Chase picked up 5-172 for the exhausted West Indies, who were flattened after winning the toss and choosing to bowl.

England left themselves an hour to bowl, with Sam Curran trapping John Campbell as West Indies reached 32-1, 437 behind.

It means England have a prime opportunity to level the series at 1-1, but they will have to mindful of the weather, with rain forecast for Saturday.

Highlight of the day Shannon Gabriel's missed run out when his throw missed the wickets from a distance of three inches

[Lord Snooty]

Bloody hell, how many wickets fell while I was watching t' Town match?

[themaclad]

[themaclad]

West Indies going well, Sibley has accidentally gobbed on the ball, so it's been wiped clean. Also possibly Chris Woakes has probably had the worst review in history, looks destined for a draw this one.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

We played 90mph pacers on a pitch that needed seamers, and we're now playing seamers on a pitch that needs 90mph pacers.

[themaclad]

GAME ON BE A BIT OF VILLAGE CROSS BATTED SLOGS TOMORROW



Second Test, Emirates Old Trafford (day four of five)
England 469-9 dec (Stokes 176, Sibley 120) & 37-2
West Indies 287 (Brathwaite 75, Brooks 68, Chase 51)
England lead by 219

An explosive spell from Stuart Broad on the fourth evening kept alive England's hopes of winning the second Test against West Indies at Emirates Old Trafford.

Broad, who rested for the first Test, took three wickets in 14 deliveries with the second new ball to inspire the home side after West Indies looked to be batting towards a position of safety.

Kraigg Brathwaite made 75 and Shamarh Brooks 68, but when Brooks was trapped lbw by Broad it began a slide from 242-4 to 260-8.

Roston Chase's 51 dragged the tourists past the follow-on mark, only for Chris Woakes to remove him and Shannon Gabriel in the same over to bowl West Indies for 287, 182 behind.

The sight of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler striding out to open the batting for England 40 minutes from the close was thrilling, evoking memories of the World Cup super a year ago.

However, a chaotic eight overs saw Buttler fall for a duck and Zak Crawley 10 to leave England 37-2, leading by 219.

They will continue the quest for quick runs on Monday, setting up a declaration before looking to take the 10 wickets that would level the three-match series at 1-1.

Pace bowler Jofra Archer, who was dropped from this Test for breaching the bio-secure protocols, returned to training by bowling in the nets.

With the entire third day lost to rain and West Indies blunting England's attack for most of the fourth, this match seemed destined to meander to the draw that would see the tourists retain the Wisden Trophy.

Indeed, for so long Sunday's most noteworthy occurrence was Dom Sibley absent-mindedly breaching coronavirus playing conditions by applying saliva to the ball, resulting in the umpires having to sanitise it.

That was all changed by Broad's brilliant burst and the contest is now set for an intriguing conclusion on Monday.

Although West Indies have been solid with the bat so far in this series, England will feel they have a genuine chance of bowling them out on a pitch that is starting to show uneven bounce.

England captain Joe Root will have to calculate his declaration carefully, not only to give his bowlers enough time, but possibly even leaving West Indies a target that could tempt them into a run-chase.

West Indies are likely to be focused on survival, but they will know victory would secure a first series win in England since 1988.


After West Indies resumed on 32-1, England were frustrated by the stubbornness of the batting, the lack of pace in the pitch and several half chances that were missed.

The pace bowlers were struggling to find movement and off-spinner Dom Bess could not find a consistent length, even if he had nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph turn to short leg before Shai Hope was caught behind off the wholehearted Sam Curran.

Stokes did not bowl until after lunch, and the sight of him banging in short ball after short ball during a tireless 11-over spell highlighted the absence of Archer's pace.

Stokes eventually got his reward when Brathwaite patted back a return catch, meaning England had opened an end just before the second new ball was due.

Broad took it and brought the game to life with a full length, some variable bounce and nagging consistency. Both Brooks and Shane Dowrich were trapped on the crease to be lbw either side of Jermaine Blackwood being bowled by one that kept low.

Woakes took over, enticing Jason Holder to edge to second slip, correctly using a review to have Chase lbw and, five balls later, bowling Gabriel.

[Lord Snooty]

England declared. WI need 312 to win.

[themaclad]

3 gone already

[Lord Snooty]

And another