(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Alastair Cook's double century put England in a commanding position before James Anderson struck with the ball against the West Indies in the inaugural day/night Test in Britain at Edgbaston yesterday.
West Indies were 44 for one in reply to England's imposing 514 for eight declared, a deficit of 501 runs, when rain stopped play shortly after tea on the second day.
Cook's 243 was the cornerstone of England's total and the former captain's dismissal prompted current skipper Joe Root to declare.
That left the West Indies with a tricky nine overs to bat in twilight before the interval.
That was time enough for opener Kraigg Brathwaite to be caught behind for a duck off Anderson, England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker.
And Kieran Powell had made just two when the normally reliable Ben Stokes dropped him in the gully off Stuart Broad.
Powell was five not out at tea, with Test debutant Kyle Hope, in with West Indies nought for one wicket, unbeaten on seven.
England resumed in an immensely strong position of 348 for three in the first of this three-match series and the 50th Test at Edgbaston.
Cook was 153 not out — his tenth score of 150 or more in Tests.
Together with Root, who made 136 after winning the toss, he'd put on 248 for the third wicket.
There was a sombre start to yesterday's proceedings with players, officials and spectators observing a minute's silence observed in memory of the victims of Thursday's terror attacks in Spain.
On the field, left-hander Cook — England's all-time leading Test run-scorer and century-maker — continued to look as if he was having a ‘net' against an outclassed attack.
Malan, who in marked contrast to Cook is appearing in just his third Test, provided steady support during a century stand that took the total beyond 400.
His pull off Miguel Cummins, one of four seamers in the attack, saw Malan complete a 112 ball-fifty.
Cook then went to his 200, his fourth Test double century, when a misfield by Kyle Hope on the third man rope — an error symptomatic of a generally sloppy team display in the field — allowed the ball to trickle through for the opener's 30th four in 339 balls.
But West Indies did have a success on the stroke of lunch when off-spinner Roston Chase had left-hander Malan caught at slip by Jermaine Blackwood to end a partnership of 162.
Cook was 213 not out at lunch. But his chances of surpassing his highest Test score of 294, made against India at Edgbaston six years ago, were effectively undone with a rush of wickets at the other end.
EDGBASTON SCORECARD
England 1st Innings (overnight: 348-3)
A. Cook lbw b Chase 243
M. Stoneman b Roach 8
T. Westley lbw b Cummins 8
J. Root b Roach 136
D. Malan c Blackwood b Chase 65
B. Stokes c Blackwood b Chase 10
J. Bairstow b Holder 18
M. Ali c Brathwaite b Chase 0
T. Roland-Jones not out 6
Extras (lb10, w3, nb7) 20
Total (8 wkts dec, 135.5 overs, 562 mins) 514
Did not bat: S Broad, J Anderson
Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Stoneman), 2-39 (Westley), 3-287 (Root), 4-449 (Malan), 5-466 (Stokes), 6-505 (Bairstow), 7-506 (Ali), 8-514 (Cook)
Bowling: Roach 28-8-86-2 (3w); Joseph 22-3-109-0 (2nb); Cummins 24-3-87-1 (3nb); Holder 29.3-4-103-1 (2nb); Chase 26.2-2-113-4; Brathwaite 6-0-6-0
West Indies 1st Innings
K. Brathwaite c Bairstow b Anderson 0
K. Powell not out 18
K. Hope not out 25
Extras (w1) 1
Total (1 wkt, 16 overs, 66 mins) 44
To bat: S Hope, R Chase, J Blackwood, S Dowrich, J Holder, K Roach, A Joseph, M Cummins
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Brathwaite)
Bowling: Anderson 8-2-17-1 (1w); Broad 8-1-27-0;
MENAFN1808201700670000ID1095746809
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.