West Indies’ Treble Strike Rocks England In Third Test

Jason Holder delivered an impressive all-round performance as the West Indies took three late wickets, including both England openers on successive deliveries, in an exciting comeback on the first day of the third Test at Edgbaston. Holder’s 59 transformed the West Indies’ 115-5 into a total of 282 all out, as they sought to salvage some pride, being already 2-0 down in the three-match series. Holder also took two excellent catches in the slips, leaving England at 38-3 at stumps, trailing by 244 runs.

Zak Crawley was dismissed for eight, edging a loose drive off Jayden Seales, with Holder making a sharp catch at second slip. Following Crawley’s exit, Ben Duckett played on to Alzarri Joseph, and nightwatchman Mark Wood fell for a duck, edging Seales to Holder. Seales finished the day with figures of 2-19 from four overs, with Ollie Pope and Joe Root set to resume on Saturday.

Earlier, the West Indies were well-placed at 76-0 after captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and elected to bat on a favorable pitch. However, they suffered a familiar collapse, losing five wickets around the lunch interval. Holder found support from Joshua Da Silva (49), with the pair adding 109 runs for the sixth wicket. Despite their efforts, the rest of the innings folded, with Gus Atkinson taking 4-67 and Chris Woakes 3-59.

Brathwaite started well, completing a 70-ball fifty, including six fours. Mikyle Louis, who supported Brathwaite, was dismissed after edging Atkinson to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. Kirk McKenzie was bowled by Mark Wood, and Alick Athanaze bottom-edged a pull shot onto his stumps just before lunch, leaving the West Indies at 97-3 with Brathwaite unbeaten on 56.

The West Indies needed a big innings from their captain, but Brathwaite fell for 61, gloving a pull shot to Smith off Wood. Kavem Hodge, who scored a maiden Test century in the previous match, left a Woakes delivery that hit the top of off stump, reducing the West Indies to 115-5. Holder then counter-attacked, hitting Stokes and Shoaib Bashir for boundaries, including a six over long-on.

Holder reached his fifty from 92 balls, but Da Silva fell for 49, caught behind off Oakes. Holder’s innings ended when Atkinson bowled him, leaving the West Indies all out for 282.