Afterwards a solid foundation laid on the opening day by Sibley and Stokes, England tightened their grip against the Windies on Day 2 of the 2nd Test match at the end of Day’s play.
England resumed their innings at 203/3 with Sibley(86*) and Stokes(59*) having an unbroken partnership of 126 runs.
Opener Dom Sibley(120) and Ben Stokes (176) pulled England out of trouble from 81/3 at one stage after the loss of their returning captain Joe root on 23 to Alzaari Joseph. A 260-run fourth-wicket stand between Sibley and Stokes that lasted for 94.4 overs put England in the driver’s seat as they declared on 469/9 on stumps of Day 2 of the second Test.
Also Read : England vs West Indies 2nd Test Day 2: England look good to score big
Opener Sibley completed his second test century shortly before lunch, eventually falling for 120, while Stokes cut loose after it before going for 176.
The day was all about Sibley and Stokes. Their partnership of 260 runs is now the 2nd highest for the 4th Wicket stand by England against West Indies’ after 411 shared by Peter May & Colin Cowdrey at Edgbaston in 1957.
Brilliant batting display from @DomSibley and @benstokes38 on Day 2 here in Manchester! 🦁🦁🦁
15-minute Highlights: https://t.co/IKxIPlaPby #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/USIMFePHOi
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 18, 2020
Sibley’s hundred was one of the slowest in Tests by an England batsman, the opener batting for 471 minutes – nearly eight hours, to complete a 312 balls century.
The Windies have to face a tricky last hour in which they lost opener, John Campbell, to recalled Sam Curran to leave them trailing by 437 with their scorecard reading 32/1 with Kraigg Braithwaite and Nightwatchman Alzaari Joseph at the crease at the close of day.
YESSS! @CurranSM makes the breakthrough! 🙌
Scorecard & Videos: https://t.co/zUaWdFMRLG#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/UldCUMr0fg
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 17, 2020
Earlier England had been forced to make a late change after pacer Jofra Archer was found breaching the bio-secure bubble by making an unauthorized trip home to Brighton after Windies four-wicket win in last week’s first test at Southampton.
Also Read : Jofra Archer dropped from England squad ahead of 2nd test for breaching the bio-secure protocol
