Broad strikes as England eye 2nd Test win
Stuart Broad took two quick wickets to keep the West Indies reeling due to England pressed for a series-levelling win found in the second Test on Monday after a dashing innings by Ben Stokes.
West Indies were 25-3 in lunch on the ultimate day at Old Trafford, chasing a nominal target of 312 after the hosts declared, but with their definitive goal to bat out your day and preserve their 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Recalled paceman Broad, controversially rested from England's four-wicket defeat on the first Test in Southampton, had lunch numbers of 2-17 from six overs.
Broad had previously rocked the West Indies with a spell of three wickets for just one run in 14 balls during their first-innings 287.
And he was first on target again Monday, with Broad, England's second-most successful Test bowler ever, striking just five balls in to the tourists' second innings.
Broad had John Campbell caught behind by Jos Buttler, though it needed the bowler's plea for an assessment, which England captain Joe Root answered in the last moment, to reveal a good thin edge.
Chris Woakes then had West Indies dangerman Kraigg Brathwaite, who top-scored with 75 found in the tourists' first innings, lbw for 12.
And West Indies were 23-3 when Broad bowled Shai Hope with an outstanding delivery that clipped the very best of off stump.
- Stokes show -
Earlier, Stokes, promoted to open found in a quest for easy runs, made 78 not out off 57 balls, including four fours and three sixes, to have England to 129-3 declared in their second innings.
Having batted cautiously before upping the tempo throughout a excellent 176 in England's first innings 469-9 declared, star all-rounder Stokes made another brilliantly judged batting display.
England resumed on the overnight 37-2, with Stokes 16 not out and Root eight not out.
West Indies captain Jason Holder, knowing what England wanted to conduct, spread the field and much wide.
But Stokes still took 14 runs off the first over of your day, bowled by Kemar Roach.
The left-handed batsman smashed the quickly bowler's fourth ball past a static long-off for four and next ball took the fielder out from the equation with an enormous drive over his head for six.
Next over, Stokes should have been out for 29 when the star all-rounder slogged Shannon Gabriel to deep extra cover limited to Campbell to drop a routine catch.
Stokes punished the West Indies for that error, likely to fifty with a good six off Gabriel that cleared the towering Holder in long-off.
Root was then run out but England vice-captain Stokes continued his assault by powerfully driving a car Holder for six before elegantly gliding him to four right down to third man off successive balls.
With England having scored 92 runs off 11 overs on Monday, Root declared to provide then 85 overs where to force victory.
The 3rd Test, also being staged at Old Trafford, starts on Friday.
