Jason Holder
Jason Holder [Photo-Twitter]

Death, taxes and a good old England collapse are one of the few constants in life, and this fact was once again proved to the hilt as the visitors last 5-35 in the final session to hand West Indies the advantage at stumps [an overall lead of 170], finishing at 8-284 on what was an enthralling day of Test match cricket.

Starting the day at 0-35, English openers Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley picked off where they had left, ensuring that hosts went unscathed in the opening hour of the fourth day.

England, West Indies
Rory Burns [Photo-Twitter/Sky Sports]
On a pitch that seemed to have considerably improved for batting, even though the awkward bounce made its presence throughout the day, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley went on to compile England’s longest partnership (36.1 overs) since 2017.

But, as it would eventually become a theme, England lost a wicket to a relatively harmless ball against the run of play. Roston Chase provided West Indies their first wicket when Rory Burns [42 off 104 balls] cut a wide delivery straight to John Campbell at backward point.

Joe Denly and Dom Sibley went on to blunt another 15.2 overs for 41 runs. Sibley complied a well-crafted half-century but then saw himself dismiss twice in a space of three balls. While he has reprieved courtesy a Shannon Gabriel after he dragged it straight on his stumps, he ran out of luck when he strangled down the leg-side.

Joe Denly’s penchant for not converting his starts into a substantial innings was once again on full show as he chipped another innocuous delivery from Roston Chase to Jason Holder.

Also Read- Sachin Tendulkar Reckons If DRS Shows Ball Is Hitting The Stumps, It Should Be Given Out

West Indies bowlers strike back in the last session as England lose 5-35

Ben Stokes and Zak Crawley carefully blunted the remaining overs to ensure the home side did not lose any more wicket before the Tea break.

Post the tea break, Ben Stokes [46] played some sumptuous drives. The English captain accumulated 98 runs for the 4th wicket but just as it looked England were slowly starting to get into ascendency, captain Holder once again got his counterpart to give the West Indies a much-needed reprieve.

England, West Indies
Alzarri Joseph [Photo-Twitter]
Alzarri Joseph then got into the act. He first got Zak Crawley [76], who edged a flick straight to the bowler.

Jos Buttler’s [9] struggles with the bat as he saw his stumps shattered by Alzarri Joseph courtesy a loose drive. Joseph could have got Bess too but for the dropped catch from Shane Dowrich.

England, West Indies
Dom Bess [Photo-Twitter/ESPNCricinfo]
The drop, fortunately for the visitors didn’t cost much thanks to Shannon Gabriel, in a crackerjack delivery- off came that in with the angle before straightening just enough to wipe off Bess’ off-stump.

Gabriel wasn’t done yet as he dislodged Ollie Pope’s stumps with a shortish delivery which nipped back past his defenses. Mark Wood and Jofra Archer blunted out the remaining overs to end an intriguing day of five-day cricket.

 

Here’s how Twitter reacted to England vs West Indies 2020, 1st Test, Day 04:

https://twitter.com/TizTaz99/status/1281985840529448960