Joe Root’s sixth Test hundred piloted England to a position of control at 373 for six in reply to the West Indies first innings total of 299 at stumps on the third day of the second Test.
Coming in the wake of half-centuries in the drawn first Test in Antigua, the 24-year-old Yorkshireman’s unbeaten 118 extended his excellent run of form and ensured the tourists made good use of the first sun-drenched day of the match.
They will go into the penultimate day ahead by 74 runs with Root and Jos Buttler seeking to build on that advantage in the quest for the victory on the last day that escaped them last week at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
SA U19 END TOUR ON SORRY NOTE
The Bangladesh under-19s finished the Youth One-Day International series on a high with a close, one-wicket win over the South Africa U19s at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Thursday. The hosts ended the tour with a commanding 6-1 series victory.
In the final match, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first, posting a 233-run target for the hosts. Dayyaan Galiem scored the only half-century with 53, while Dean Foxcroft missed out on a well-deserved half-century when he was dismissed for 49. Other notable contributions came from Wiaan Mulder (32) and Rivaldo Moonsamy (30), facing the predominantly spin bowling attack better than they did in previous matches for their 232-6.
Nazmul Shanto (55) and Pinak Ghosh gave Bangladesh a good start with a 57-run partnership for the second wicket after they lost Saif Hassan for 13 in the fifth over thanks to Lungi Ngidi.
Shafiul Hayet departed without scoring, allowing for Mehedi Hasan (61) and Shanto to put on the 99-run, fourth-wicket stand that set the hosts on the path to victory. Mohammad Saifuddin added a vital and unbeaten 34 runs to the scorecard, while wickets tumbled around him thanks to Mulder (2-33) and Galiem (2-38). Three run-outs by Moonsamy, Mulder and Sibonelo Makhanya saw the end of Prosenjit Das, Qazi Onik and Sanjit Saha for nine, four and three respectively. Bangladesh were 217-9 when Saleh Ahmed (5) entered the fray, assisting Saifuddin in the road to victory for a nail-biting finish.
South Africa return home on 26 April. They will have a short time to prepare before Bangladesh’s reciprocal tour to South Africa in June and July of this year. Further details on the tour will be released in due course.
