NORTH SOUND: West Indies survived four overs without loss before lunch in their second innings on the final day of the first Test in North Sound on the island of Antigua on Saturday, scoring four runs before the break.

England set West Indies a victory target of 286 runs, declaring in time to give their attack 71 overs to get through the West Indies, who will have to score at a rate of four runs an over to pull off an unlikely victory.

But England’s task was made harder by the absence of their fastest bowler, Mark Wood, who will take no further part in the match due to a right elbow injury.

England captain Joe Root used Jack Leach, the team’s only specialist spinner, with the new ball, along with pace bowler Chris Woakes.

West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite (3) and John Campbell (1) were unbeaten at the break.

Earlier, Root completed an almost effortless century in England’s second innings before declaring on 349 for six wickets at the Viv Richards Stadium.

It was the 24th century of his career, putting him second only to Alistair Cook’s 33 among England players.

Root brought up his century with a single, removing his helmet to acknowledge the crowd as a stiff breeze tousled his hair.

He was eventually clean bowled by Alzarri Joseph for 109 while trying to manufacture a shot through the leg side as England chased quick runs.

His century followed a 121 by Zak Crawley, who was bowled by a Jason Holder yorker, ending a 201-run partnership between the pair.

The match is the first in a three-Test series in the Caribbean, where England have enjoyed little success in the past half century, winning only one series.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2022