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PHOTOS: Pope rescues England after Windies strike early

Last updated on: July 24, 2020 23:59 IST

Images from Day 1 of the third and final Test between England and West Indies at Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday.

Ollie Pope

IMAGE: England's Ollie Pope bats during Day 1 of the third and final Test, in Manchester, on Friday. Photograph: Michael Regan/Pool via Reuters

Ollie Pope scored an unbeaten 91 and Jos Buttler contributed a half century as England took advantage of a tired West Indies attack to move to 258 for four on Friday when bad light brought play to a premature end on the opening day of the final Test in Manchester.

 

West Indies had kept a tight rein on their hosts through the first two sessions at Old Trafford but leaked runs after tea to hand England the upper hand in the decisive Test.

Jos Buttler

IMAGE: Jos Buttler hits a six during Day 1. Photograph: Michael Steele/Pool via Reuters

Pope offered one catching chance and survived two reviews as he played a positive innings to enhance his growing reputation.

He was nine runs short of his Test century when he took the offer of bad light.

IMAGE: West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach celebrates after taking the wicket of England opener Dom Sibley. Photograph: Michael Steele/Pool via Reuters

Buttler, whose place in the team is under threat after a poor run with the bat, played a supporting role in the unbroken 136-run partnership. He took 104 balls to reach his half century and was 56 not out at the close.

Rory Burns also contributed 57 runs before being caught at first slip by an instinctive grab from slip fielder Rakheem Cornwall, one of the highlights of the day for the West Indies.

IMAGE: West Indies players kneel in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign before the start of the third Test at Old Trafford. Photograph: Michael Steele/Pool via Reuters

West Indies captain Jason Holder won the toss and put his bowlers back to work at the start of their third test in a matter of 16 days.

It looked the right decision after Dom Sibley went without scoring in the first over of the day and England’s danger men Joe Root and Ben Stokes made negligible contributions.

Root was run out for 17 and Stokes bowled for 20 by Kemar Roach, the pick of the bowlers who ended the day with figures of 2-56 off 18.4 overs.

Ben Stokes

IMAGE: England's Ben Stokes is bowled by West Indies pace bowler Kemar Roach during Day 1 of the third and final Test, in Manchester, on Friday. Photograph: Michael Regan/Pool via Reuters

Stokes looked uncomfortable at the crease as he struggled with a quadriceps strain, picked up during his second test heroics, and was cleverly set up by Roach, who after two bouncers produced a perfect in-swinging delivery to strike down the stumps.

England sacrificed a batsman to include an extra seamer in their line up because of the likelihood that Stokes will not be able to make of a contribution with the ball.

James Anderson and Jofra Archer returned to England's bowling attack for the third and final Test as the West Indies won the toss and put the hosts into bat.

Rory Burns

IMAGE: England opener Rory Burns bats during Day 1. Photograph: Michael Steele/Pool via Reuters

England dropped Zak Crawley to add an extra bowler due to concerns around Ben Stokes’ fitness with the all-rounder having struggled with a quadriceps injury. Sam Curran was also left out.

Archer had been suspended for the second Test after breaking biosecure protocols and he spoke earlier this week of his mental anguish after being racially abused on social media while spending five days in quarantine.

The West Indies made just one change with Rahkeem Cornwall adding a frontline spinner in place of Alzarri Joseph.

The series is tied at 1-1.

Source: REUTERS
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