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.
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.
WAS THIS A NO-BALL? ?
He eventually got his man, but here's a look at that initial Gabriel wicket that was called a no-ball… what do you think?
? Watch #ENGvWI on Sky Sports Cricket ? https://t.co/oyTQkZnmKe
? Live blog ? https://t.co/EFDeOBsNuE#️⃣ #raisethebat ? pic.twitter.com/8gMapINwP8
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 11, 2020
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.
Alzarri Joseph then got into the act. He first got Zak Crawley [76], who edged a flick straight to the bowler.
SIX DOWN! Buttler is next to go for 9, as Joseph sends his leg stump flying. England 265-6 now, just 151 ahead:
? Watch live ? https://t.co/Kc2ruPeDTe
? Over-by-over blog ? pic.twitter.com/7vUusanAEi— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 11, 2020
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.
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:
??????? STUMPS ?
5️⃣ wickets
3️⃣5️⃣ runsA good evening for the West Indies bowlers ? #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/unTAx89EJ2
— ICC (@ICC) July 11, 2020
Rubbish. Inconclusive evidence. You gotta go with the umpire’s original decision. All protocols go for a toss….this Test hasn’t been a great advertisement for ‘home’ umpires. #Sibley #Gabriel #EngvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 11, 2020
The West Indies quicks are bowling with great heart and discipline against an England batting side that appears rather brittle. The game is their's at the moment.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 11, 2020
The Holder ? Stokes battle ?https://t.co/yCOdkXaMz6 | #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/i7ZKMRghbc
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 11, 2020
oh go on then #EngvWI pic.twitter.com/tPbwqxnhuN
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) July 11, 2020
5.45pm: England 249-3
6.50pm: England 279-8
Collapse.
? Listen: https://t.co/IIKtiqnGCW
? Follow: https://t.co/406cOsPNjr#bbccricket #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/mqv8T1XlW7— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 11, 2020
Shannon Gabriel uproots the off stump to end Bess' resistance! ? #ENGvWI SCORECARD ▶️ https://t.co/J9IrapSl4x pic.twitter.com/zIaG2uyrSi
— ICC (@ICC) July 11, 2020
West Indies roaring in this Test now! Keep England under the lead of 200 and this West Indian batting line-up should get it. #ENGvWI
— Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16) July 11, 2020
With some changes to cricket being introduced in these new times, @sachin_rt and I discuss them and how they might affect the game as we know it #ENGvWI https://t.co/203hzhZIsu
— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) July 11, 2020
Evening session on a Saturday ☀️
England building on a lead in a tight Test match ???????
Blue skies ?Who else would love to be at the Ageas Bowl right now? ?️#ENGvWI #RaiseTheBat #BenStokesBarmyArmy pic.twitter.com/6KnjsSyyuz
— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) July 11, 2020
2020 has been such a negative
Thank God Test Cricket. Finally we can forget our problems for sometime
Welcome Back. We missed you dearly! #ENGvWI
— North Stand Gang – Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) July 11, 2020
Captains dismissing Opposing Captains twice in a Test Match
3 Jason Holder*
2 Gary Sobers, Richie Benaud & Shakib Al Hassan
1 A Gilligan, W Robbins, P van der Merwe, Intikhab Alam, B Bedi, H Cronje, A Flintoff, D Vettori & G Cremer#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/x9Jlh8UTmI— K H A Y A M (@KhayamSays) July 11, 2020
How Eng are Appealing How WI are Appealing #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/qLvjSNnGbx
— Sai (@akakrcb6) July 10, 2020
#ENGvWI ENGLAND love a collapse,
— Terry Casey (@tcliverpool) July 11, 2020
10/10 ? https://t.co/M1JeW2uzaP
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 11, 2020
Since last summer's Ashes, wicketkeepers average 63.73 with the bat against England in Test cricket.
In the same time period, Jos Buttler averages 18.36.#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/toDw1NZjeO
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 11, 2020
That was a very damning Third Man package by Nick Knight on Jos Buttler. A good technique is a technique that works for the player in question but Buttler's right now isn't working for him & that head position—falling over to the off side—is rare amongst top Test players. #ENGvWI
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) July 11, 2020
Zak Crawley has played the pressure card like a 21 yr old should do … No baggage & only excitement of how he can affect the game in a positive sense … looks a high class player … #TestCricket
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 11, 2020
https://twitter.com/TizTaz99/status/1281985840529448960
? Athers… Hook, line, and sinker! ?#ENGvWIpic.twitter.com/MdPZhXRJfX
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) July 11, 2020
Oh how we've missed gorgeous cover drives.
(via @englandcricket) #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/N99vvNCh1D
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 11, 2020
Michael Holding, on commentary, mentions ‘silly point’ and my 3yo reacts immediately….’We don’t say ‘silly’. What happened to the manners?’ I mean…. ?♂️? #EngvWI #TestCricket
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 11, 2020
West Indies for the win #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/lwpClzqPAx
— Edged & Taken (@s0urav27) July 11, 2020
Test cricket is the best #ENGvWI
— Jack Mendel ?️ (@Mendelpol) July 11, 2020
What a come back by Jason Holder & Co, England 249 for 3 to 284 for 8 with leading by 170 runs in second innings. Brilliant from Alzarri Joseph and Gabriel. This is going to be a brilliant final day on Sunday. #ENGvWI
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 11, 2020