WI vs ENG | 3rd Test | Day 2: Windies lower-order steadies the ship

West Indies successfully surpassed England's first innings total on Friday, taking a 28-run lead on Day 2 of the series-deciding Test in Grenada. Joshua da Silva has anchored West Indies' innings from 128/7 in reply to England's 204.

Both the teams have taken wickets quite comfortably with the shiny new ball, but they have struggled with the softer ball, making life easy for the lower-order and tailenders. 

"The wicket as we saw today goes through periods of doing a bit, but then when it doesn't you can score runs," said England's opening bowler Chris Woakes. 

"Still had moments where it showed a bit of variable bounce. I think it played better as the ball got softer, stated Woakes, who picked 3 for 48.

England couldn’t use the new ball well at the start of the day, and West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell did well in the first hour.

However, Brathwaite and Brooks then got trapped before the stumps, and Campbell, soon after being struck on his helmet by Craig Overton, was out to him after an England review that showed he gloved one down the leg side. 

Meanwhile, after lunch, Bonner survived after being given due to a review, but he couldn't use the chance as he was later dismissed for 4 by Woakes, who then took Jason Holder for a duck as well.

However, with this, Woakes has found his rhythm as he had to face criticism for his lack of wicket-taking skill with the new ball in the absence of veteran-duo - James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Along with this, he claimed his third when he trapped Jermaine Blackwood before the stumps. 

da Silva came to bat when West Indies were in trouble at 95/6. The keeper-batter sterilized the situation remarkably. In the initial phase of his innings, he tickled the ball around the park to find his confidence and later stifled bowlers on will. 

A few late boundaries helped West Indies put up 232 for 8 at stumps, thanks to an unbeaten 55-run partnership between da Silva (54) and Kemar Roach (25) that followed a 49-run stand between da Silva and Alzarri Joseph (28) as well.

After the day’s game, Joshua Da Silva said, “Very special innings, was much needed for the team. The pitch has flattened out a lot, but the odd ball has kept low, not much spin on offer. It's pretty up and down. We need to come out tomorrow and bat the same way, and put some runs on the board. Need to try and stretch the lead as far as we can.”

Brief scores: 

England - 204/10 (89.4)

Saqib Mahmood 49, Jack Leach 41; 

Jayden Seales 3-40

West Indies 232/8 (86)

Joshua Da Silva 54*, Kemar Roach 25*; 

Chris Woakes 3-48, Ben Stokes 2-40

At Stumps on Day 2, West Indies are leading by 28 runs.