England v West Indies: Gus Atkinson takes 4-67 but hosts lose three late wickets to surrender initiative

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England v West Indies: Gus Atkinson takes 4-67 but hosts lose three late wickets to surrender initiative

After Brathwaite was strangled down the leg side by Wood, courtesy of a fine diving catch by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, England were in the ascendency.

Two ****** later, Kavem Hodge – a centurion in the second Test – carelessly shouldered arms to a delivery from Woakes and saw his off-stump dislodged and the hosts eyed a quick finish to the West Indies innings.

Yet Ben Stokes and his bowling ******* were not able to apply the coup de grace as quick as they would have liked, and instead of crumbling West Indies regained their composure and settled in.

Indeed such was the drifting, sometimes ponderous, nature of the contest after lunch newspapers were unfolded and crosswords completed with the cricket providing only ripples of excitement.

Stokes’ quest for wickets saw a fruitless bouncer barrage to no avail while Shoaib Bashir posed few threats, although there is the unerring sense the young spinner will have a key role later in the match.

Some inventive field placings from Stokes eventually gave him the breakthrough he needed, though, after West Indies had rebuilt to reach 224-5.

With a cadre of close catchers, and just one man in the cordon, Da Silva hung his bat out and feathered Woakes to Smith.

That set the wheels in motion for the Warwickshire man, on home turf, and Atkinson to complete the job as the next five wickets went down for 58 runs.

Holder’s dogged vigil was ended by a full quick delivery from Atkinson which he played around, with the England fast bowler also removing Gudakesh Motie with a vicious bouncer.

Atkinson’s performance, and the manner in which he was able to contrive wickets in relatively unthreatening condition will particularly have pleased Stokes given he is a relative greenhorn to Test cricket.

More to follow.

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