Joe Root scored the 25th century of his Test career, and Joe Root and Dan Lawrence topped England in Barbados as England controlled the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies in Barbados.
The Best Fifties by Root and Lawrence:-
With the series full after the draw in Antigua, England was in a firm first innings position at Kensington Oval, thanks to a century from Joe Root and a fine half-century from Dan Lawrence.
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A wicket in the final over of the day saw Lawrence (91) lose his chance to score his maiden Test century, but Root would be unbeaten again on 119* with England at 244/3.
The opening day of the Barbados Test did not go so well for the tourists, with captain Root being forced to make a late change in the starting XI, with an unwell Craig Overton replacing Matthew Fisher for his Test debut.
Jaden Seals hit early to give the hosts a strong start in front of a loaded and largely England-approving crowd, removing Zak Crawley in seven balls.
A Patient Partnership:-
But a patient partnership between Alex Lees and Root took England to 47/1 at lunchtime, with the scoring rate less than two overs after the morning session.
Root swung through the gears after the interval, but Lies’ stubborn innings came to end the ball when his captains 50 was reached, with the Durham opener scoring 30 off 138 balls in front of spinner Virsamy Permaul.
New batsman Lawrence showed an aggressive nature and selfless attitude in his second-innings cameo in Antigua, and showed similarly positive intent from off in Barbados, hitting two boundaries and quickly reaching double figures.
And a fluent partnership developed between Root and the prodigious 24-year-old that took England to 136/2 by tea.
The scoring rate increased markedly soon after the tea break. As the pair raced towards their respective milestones and reached them in successive deliveries.
Lawrence brought up his fourth half-century in Test cricket with a pull for a single off the first ball of Seals’ over. Which came off just 62 balls.
And Root caught on a bumper and flicked a single to complete his second century of the series and the 25th century of his career.
England built on the stage that Lees and Root had set up in the morning session. And England broke into an outcry as the sun began to fall toward the Barbadian horizon.
Alzarri Joseph Disappointed Seals:-
Lawrence was relieved when Alzarri Joseph squandered an opportunity of a frustrated Seals. Which did not improve the mood for the tiring West Indies bowling attack.
The blast of five overs with the new ball was not enough to destabilize the England pair. As an increasingly well-oiled and enthusiastic traveling fan put the pair in the middle.
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But Lawrence, who hit one four after another during Jason Holder’s last over. Fell for a career-best Test score of 91 on the last ball of the day. Well short of his maiden Test century.
Ben Stokes will join Root at the crease for the start of the second day. With England on 244 and seven wickets still remaining.
