Wisden Trophy 2020 
West Indies Vs England Test Series 
Second Test Played at Emirates Stadium Old Trafford, Manchester, England 

Brief Score Card At Sumps Day-4:
England 1st Innings 469/9 declared ( BA Stokes 176, DP Sibley 120, JC Buttler 40, RL Chase 5/172, KAJ Roach 2/58) and 2nd 37/2 ( BA Stokes 16*, KAJ Roach 2/14), West Indies 1st Innings 287 All Out ( KC Brathwaite 75, SSJ Brooks 68, RL Chase 51, AS Josef 32, S Hope 25, C Woakes 3/42, SCJ Broad 3/66, SM Curran 2/70)
England Leading by 219 runs. 

A brilliant second new ball outburst of champion English bowler Stuart Broad with the second new taking 3/1 in 14 deliveries brought England to driving seat. West Indies rallying admirably till mid afternoon of day four appeared to be anchoring their ship to safety at 241 for 4 with Brooks and chase guiding the innings. English attack toiled without much success till then. Root took the new ball and within the wink of an eye broad decimated the tourist from 4/241 to 7/252 still needing 18 for avoiding following on. West Indies did manage doing that but could not proceed much. Their innings folded at 287 still 182 runs in arrears. Root changed the batting order letting blaster Buttler opening with Crawly looking for quick runs. In the 8 overs remaining for the day Roach clean bowled both of them. But England managing 37 more runs surged 219 runs ahead. Another 70-80 in one hour of day five would be enough for the home trying all guns blazing for forcing a result. West Indies would require batting out of their skins to save the match. 

This is test cricket where morning does not always show the day. We wrote after first days play that Holder possibly made strategic mistake letting England bat after winning the toss. Risking the less experienced West Indies batting on a wearing 5th day wicket may be way too much. However, rain reduced the match to exactly four days. West Indies was batting all right till Broad tsunami struck them from no where. Who knows whether there would be more dramas on the fifth morning. But England with 8 second innings wicket can afford taking risks in blasting 70 plus runs in an hour leaving West Indies an improbable target of 300 runs to chase or bat to save the test. West Indies does not have their T20 maestros in the team. Still who knows?

West Indies started day four at 32/1 with night watch man Josef pairing with Brathwaite stubbornly resisting Englaish attack. Broad, Woakes, Curran could not dislodge Josef. Finally spinner Bess made the break through but till then Josef did his job of staying with Brathwaite weathering the English attack. He scored valuable 32.  Hope joined Brathwaite and took the score to 123 before Woakes trapped him LBW for 25. Two main stay of West Indies batting Brathwaite and Chase looked like batting with ease in their 76 runs 4th wicket partnership. Brathwaite was looking solid till English all rounder Stokes made the most vital break through. He had stubborn Brathwaite caught and bowled for 75. 

West Indies was still 71 runs away for avoiding the dreaded follow on target. Chase and Brooks were resisting well. Both were looking to take the team to safe anchorage till Broad appeared in his wicket taking hat with the second new ball. His brilliance blew away West Indies resistance like Tsunami. From 241/4 the innings soon decimated to 260/8. Tail did not wag as inspired by Broad Woakes also contributed. West Indies Innings folded at 287 all out still 182 runs in arrears. Brathwaite (75), Brroks (68), Chase (51), Josef (32) contributed. If any of this innings could prolong West Indies could go closer to 400 and could be safe. Credit must be given to England for staying patient and grabbing the opportunities when it came their way. Broad with 3/66 was the wrecker in chief, Woakes also took 3/ 42 and Curran took 2/70.

England in 8 overs raced to 37/2 taking an over all lead of 219. We are not sure what target Root and England would think safe . England will need at least two and a half session to try and take 10 West Indian Wicket. The way West Indies batted so far in the series we must not write off their ability for salvaging a draw at least. If West Indies can bowl well and restrict England from scoring quick runs who knows the match can still witness last act of melodrama before the curtain drops. 

BDST: 1157 HRS, JUL 20, 2020
SMS