WI vs ENG | 2nd Test | Day 2: Ben Stokes scores first century since return

England stand firm in the Test match on Day 2 of the second game after piling on 500 runs in the first innings. A big innings from Ben Stokes headlined for the most part of the day, before debutant Matthew Fisher took the first wicket of the West Indies line-up, making the Barmy Army sing his name.

England declared their first innings at 507/9 after playing 150.5 overs owing to Ben Stokes’ first century since his return from a break. This was also Stokes’ first century after his father’s death, who he chose to remember after reaching the three-figure mark. Alongside Stokes, captain Joe Root also reached his 150 before getting trapped in front by the wily Kemar Roach who picked two wickets on the day. 

Root’s wicket which came after England adding 130 runs for their first partnership today, did not dent momentum. Relying on Stokes’ 120 runs off 128 balls, England kept a very healthy scoring rate, managing to put on runs at a pace that they have done in a while.

It must be remembered that anything England do in this Test series is aimed at their rehaul approach of Test cricket in a country that has seen gut crunching defeats against the top teams in the world.

Stokes’ 11 fours and 6 sixes laden innings was a treat to watch for the English fans who understood that there is no way for Windies to get back any longer. Late partnerships in the day from Ben Foakes and Chris Woakes further added to the total and England declared after quick three wickets of Foakes Woakes and Jack Leach.

Coming into bowl, Matthew Fisher took his maiden wicket in the very second ball of his first over. After getting hit for four in the first ball, Fisher pushed the ball further up to induce an edge from John Cambell who threw his bat trying to drive the ball through covers. Fisher was an unlikely entry into this Test match, but Craig Overton’s illness paved the way for the 24-year-old fast bowler. 

At the end of Day 2, England are well poised in their lead of 436 runs. If the first Test match had any signs, the middle order of the Windies batting looks fragile and has crumbled in pressure. However, Jason Holder and Nkrumah Bonner are the two key wickets that England would be looking for on Day 3, if they have any aspirations to win this game.