ENG vs WI: 3rd Test – Talking points from third day’s play
England took decisive steps towards capturing the last edition of the Wisden Trophy. Setting West Indies 399 runs to win with two days remaining in the third Test, the home side looks favourite to clinch this match unless weather intervenes. Day three belonged to Stuart Broad and Rory Burns. The bowler claimed six wickets in the day while the opener scored 90 thus allowing England to set a massive target. Here’s how the day’s action unfolded.
Broad rocks West Indies
First wicket of the day!
Scorecard/Videos: https://t.co/pvF724ZqtE#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/7jC4PbEeG1
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 26, 2020
The first major task for West Indies on the third day was to avoid the follow-on. Captain Jason Holder and Shane Dowrich carried the side past 169 runs and ensured England’s second innings. However, the rest of the play belonged to Stuart Broad. The pacer who was not selected for the first test hit back with four quick wickets to gain England a healthy advantage. Broad’s four wickets in the morning session saw him finishing the innings on 6/31 and rolled his career Test wickets tally to 497. West Indies lost their last four wickets for just 19 runs and finished 172 runs short of England’s total.
Burns and Sibley thwart the visitors
With a handsome lead in their account, all England needed to ensure was another solid total to put West Indies back in the field. Opener Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley mounted a strong defence. Sibley scored another half-century before falling lbw to Holder. The opening pair added 114 runs for the first wicket. English captain Joe Root played with tremendous positivity while Burns held the other end.
With one eye on the declaration, Root brought out his white-ball strokes to the game and launched an onslaught on the West Indies bowlers. Burns, meanwhile, was approaching his Test century. In an attempt to raise the tempo for team’s cause, Burns executed a slog sweep which was accepted by the substitute wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva. England declared the innings immediately after his dismissal for 90 thus setting West Indies a target of 399 runs.
Broad 499*
With only a few minutes remaining in the day, England would have been happy with even one West Indian wicket. However, Broad gave them two. Inducing an edge from both the opener John Campbell and night-watchman Kemar Roach, the fast bowler jumped to 499 Test wickets. England managed to squeeze in another over for Broad as the bowler searched for his 500th scalp. It was not to be as Shai Hope played out the over without any harm.
