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England In Command At Old Trafford  

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Update: 2020-07-18 11:33:48
England In Command At Old Trafford  

West Indies Vs England Wills Trophy Test Series 
2nd Test Played at Emirates Stadium, Old Trafford Manchester, July 16-20, 2020 

Brief Scorecard at Stumps On Day Two.
England 1st Innings 469/9 Declared in 162 Overs  ( BA Stokes 176,DP Sibley 120 , JC Buttler  40, DM Bess 31* RL Chase 5/172 KAJ Roach 2/58.), West Indies 1st Innings 32/1

Batting one and more than three quarter of a day England managed to score 469/9 before declaring the innings closed. West Indies at stumps were 32/1. Trailing by 437 runs with 9 first innings wickets at hand West Indies would need to apply themselves well to stay in the contest. 

Wicket has lots of turn, bounce, prodigious seam movement. There were   innumerable playing and missing throughout the morning and afternoon sessions, still England hanged on. 260 runs 4th wicket partnership between Sibley and Stokes salvaged home team from a position of uncertainty at 81/3 to a spot of assurance. The second best test all rounder Stokes played yet another innings of his life time. 176 scored in 356 deliveries may ultimately prove decisive in the match. His partner patient Sibley also contributed massively 120 in 372 deliveries. This was his second test century. England declaring at 469/9 is on a commanding position at stumps on day two of the must win game at Emirates stadium Old Trafford. 

West Indies did not bowl or field at all bad.  Just the luck did not run their way. Roach kept on moving the bowl prodigiously at pace .Josef left the field and may not bowl again in the match. Gabriel is not 100%. There were as many as 24 played and missed in the first session alone. 8 times ball found outside edge but did not carry.  

Roston Chase is the peak of the bowlers taking 5 for 172 in his marathon spell of 44overs.  Roach got finally rewarded for his excellent bowling through out the match. Roach needs 5 more wickets to get up to 200. Josef got out of the attack with some injury. Gabriel looked stiff. It is pretty tough for pacers playing back to back test cricket. England possibly did a smart job rotating their pacers. But it has to be proved that their changed bowling combination can take 20 West Indian wickets for winning the test. 

West Indies batted 14 testing overs in the last session losing Campbell’s wicket through a review. Night Watchman Ajari Josef joined Brathwaite and saw off the day. West Indies is not completely out of the match yet. But they will have to bat out of their skins in both the innings now to stay in the match. Patience will be the key. Wicket is not that difficult to hang on as shown by Stokes and Sibley. 

England with a completely different pace attack needs setting their bearing right. There is still plenty to play for over the next three days. 

BDST: 1133 HRS, JUL 18, 2020
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