ST. JOHN’S (Antigua), March 9: Jonny Bairstow’s classy century led England’s escape against the West Indies from a noose-tightening 48-4 to a breathe-easy 268-6 on the opening day Tuesday of their three-test series.
England’s new top order looked like the old top order as it was routed inside the first 16 overs.
The recovery was started by Bairstow and Ben Stokes crawling to lunch at 57-4.
They combined for 67 to take England past 100. Bairstow and Ben Foakes made 99 together to take England past 200, then Bairstow reached his eighth test century in the company of allrounder Chris Woakes.
Those two saw out play to stumps, including six overs of the new ball, to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Bairstow finished the day 109 not out from 216 balls with 17 fours. He has a partnership of 54 going with Woakes, who was on 24, almost his test average.
Fast bowler Jason Holder was the pick of the West Indies battery. Holder conceded 15 runs from his 16 overs and took two wickets. He didn’t leak a run in his first five overs and bowled nine maidens. Jayden Seales deserved the wickets of Stokes and Crawley for 64 runs from 19 overs.
Kemar Roach bagged the big wicket of Root and the first wicket, Alex Lees.
But their efforts came as the attack tired amid sloppy fielding at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Root chose to bat first as he saw the pitch flattening out. But he and the top order couldn’t survive the early roasting from the West Indies quicks.
Openers Lees, on debut, and Zac Crawley were gone inside four overs, Root was bowled at 27-3, and Dan Lawrence departed on 48-4.
Bairstow and Stokes limped to lunch, but came back refreshed for a fight and started hitting boundaries regularly as West Indies became too loose.
Stokes had just hit his third and fourth boundaries when he dragged on against Seales and ended a gritty and necessary 95-ball stay for 36.
Bairstow punched the air in delight after his second hundred in two tests, following his score in the fourth Ashes test in Sydney. (AP)
