West Indies dig in against England to cut deficit to 109 runs in first Test after day two in Antigua | Cricket News

England recovered from loose start with the ball to reduce West Indies to 127-4 – only for Jason Holder and Nkrumah Bonner’s half-century stand to lead the hosts to 202-4 and cut deficit to 109 runs; Chris Woakes expensive after England pass 300 in a Test for the first time in 13 attempts

West Indies trail England by 109 runs after day two of the first Test in Antigua

West Indies’ Jason Holder and Nkrumah Bonner dug in to frustrate England on day two of the first Test after Joe Root’s side followed a wayward start with the ball with a quick four-wicket burst.

Loose bowling, particularly from Chris Woakes (1-54), who was handed the new ball in the controversial absences of James Anderson and Stuart Broad from this tour, saw West Indies race to 83-0 inside 20 overs in reply to England’s Jonny Bairstow-inspired 311 all out in Antigua.

The hosts subsequently slipped to 127-4 with Woakes bagging a confidence-boosting wicket after fellow seamers Mark Wood, Ben Stokes and Craig Overton had also struck on a day of brief rain showers.

However, Holder (43no off 104) and Bonner (34no 103) battled their way to an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 75 from 190 balls as West Indies closed on 202-4 to trail by just 109.

Bonner and Holder saw off a tricky spell of reverse swing from Wood, Stokes and Overton as well as some probing deliveries from spinner Jack Leach.

England, led by Bairstow’s 140 from 259 deliveries, had earlier passed 300 for the first time in 13 Test innings – it was their best total since hitting 428 in an innings victory over India at Headingley in August – but they added just 43 runs to their overnight 268-6.

More to follow.