SOUTHAMPTON: West Indies captain Jason Holder led from the front by returning Test-best figures of 6-42 as England slumped to 204 all out on the second day of the series opener at Southampton on Thursday.

Holder, the world’s top-ranked Test all-rounder, surpassed his previous Test-best of 6-59 against Bangladesh at Kingston two years ago, making full use of overcast conditions at the Ageas Bowl.

His haul — the sixth time in his past 10 Tests that Holder has taken five or more wickets in an innings — included the prize scalp of opposing captain Ben Stokes, who top-scored with 43.

Shannon Gabriel, who did the early damage on Wednesday, took all the other wickets for impressive figures of 4-62. The muscular fast bowler was initially selected as a travelling reserve for this series before regaining full fitness following ankle surgery.

England slipped to 87-5 before a stand of 67 between Stokes (43) and vice-captain Jos Buttler (35) repaired some of the damage. Off-spinner Dom Bess chipped in with a useful 31 not out.

But with both sides seemingly stronger in bowling than batting, it is by no means certain that West Indies would emerge with a first-innings lead.

England could have been dismissed even more cheaply, with Stokes dropped on 14 and 32 after Kemar Roach floored a difficult diving chance at long leg before Shamarh Brooks spilled a far easier opportunity at extra cover.

Left-hander Stokes, leading the side in the absence of regular captain Joe Root — who is missing this match following the birth of his second child — struck Gabriel for two square-cut fours and a superb front-foot drive off Roach went for another boundary.

But Holder had Stokes, second in the all-rounder rankings, caught behind as he aimed leg-side after advancing down the pitch.

England badly needed a big score from Buttler, who had just one hundred from his 41 previous Tests. But having hit seven fours, he was undone by a superb Holder delivery that took the outside edge, with wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich holding a diving one-handed catch.

Holder then had fellow Barbados-native Jofra Archer lbw for a duck, although for the third time in the innings he had to overturn an original not out decision by English umpire Richard Kettleborough.

Holder was not finished as the big all-rounder had Mark Wood caught in the gully by Shai Hope Earlierm England resumed on 35-1 after rain marred international cricket’s return from lockdown on Wednesday, when both teams took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign.

But with the continued heavy conditions under the floodlights at Hampshire’s headquarters again making life difficult for the batsmen, they were soon 51-3 as Gabriel removed the overnight pair of Joe Denly (18) and Rory Burns (30).

Holder then got in on the act, having Zak Crawley lbw with one that came back after moving several deliveries away before Ollie Pope was caught behind as the West Indies’ joyful shouts echoed round the empty stands that will be a feature of this three-match behind closed doors contest.

West Indies have not won a Test series in England since 1988 but they hold the Wisden Trophy after a 2-1 success in the Caribbean last year.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings, overnight 35-1):

R.J. Burns lbw b Gabriel 30

D.P. Sibley b Gabriel 0

J.L. Denly b Gabriel 18

Z. Crawley lbw b Holder 10

B.A. Stokes c Dowrich b Holder 43

O.J. Pope c Dowrich b Holder 12

J.C. Buttler c Dowrich b Holder 35

D.M. Bess not out 31

J.C. Archer lbw b Holder 0

M.A. Wood c Hope b Holder 5

J.M. Anderson b Gabriel 10

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-2, NB-2) 10

TOTAL (all out, 67.3 overs) 204

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-48, 3-51, 4-71, 5-87, 6-154, 7-157, 8-157, 9-174.

BOWLING: Roach 19-6-41-0; Gabriel 15.3-3-62-4 (1nb, 1w); Joseph 13-4-53-0 (1w); Holder 20-6-42-6 (1nb).

WEST INDIES: K.C. Brathwaite, J.D. Campbell, S.S.J. Brooks, S.D. Hope, R.L. Chase, J. Blackwood, S.O. Dowrich, J.O. Holder, K.A.J. Roach, A.S. Joseph, S.T. Gabriel.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2020