The ace alrounder Ben Stokes and the talisman opener Dominic Sibley dominated the Day 2 of the second Test between England and West Indies at the Old Trafford on Friday in what was a mesmerizing show of batsmanship. Dominic Sibley scored the slowest century in Tests by an England batsman, the opener batting for 471 minutes to complete a 312-ball century featuring just four fours. However, both the hundreds put English Goliaths way ahead.
Stokes-Sibley duo put a 260 run partnership for the fourth wicket owing to which England managed to put a massive total of 469 for 9 declared on the board. The total was vital for the hosts to level the three-Test series. Roston Chase ended up claiming a five-wicket-haul.
Owing to the swinging ball and a sluggish outfield, scoring runs was so difficult for the English side that Stokes took nearly six hours (285 balls) to reach his 10th Test century. In his 71st over of the series, Roach had Stokes, attempting an ambitious reverse sweep, caught behind to end a 356-ball innings featuring 17 fours and two sixes. Jos Buttler scored 40 and Dom Bess a vital knock of 31 not out before the captain declared, leaving West Indies a fiddly hour to bat before stumps.
Chasing a stupendous total, West Indies lost their opener John Campbell (12 off 34) to Sam Curran’s delivery in the very tenth over. By the end of day 2, West Indies are 32 for the loss of one wicket.
Brief Scores: West Indies 32/1 (Kraig Brathwaite 6*, Alzarri Josep 14; Sam Curran 1/8) vs England.