The West Indies team exhibited a brilliant fightback on Day 2 of the second Test against England, reducing the lead to just 65 runs. The Windies’ openers, Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis, started steadily on a flat surface. They laid a solid foundation and appeared set to capitalize on the benign conditions.

England reduces West Indies to 84/3

However, England’s Mark Wood produced a nippy spell that unsettled the openers. It was Shoaib Bashir who got the first breakthrough when Louis holed out in the deep. Not long after, Brathwaite was bounced out by Atkinson, giving England the momentum. The hosts tightened their grip when Kirk McKenzie threw his wicket away at the stroke of lunch, providing England with the upper hand at 84/3.

Kevam Hodge’s maiden ton stages Windies fightback

Post-lunch, the partnership between Alick Athanaze and Kavam Hodge was crucial for the West Indies. They mixed caution with aggression perfectly, steadying the ship and taking advantage of a dropped catch by Joe Root at first slip. Both batters crossed their fifties, keeping the scoreboard ticking. The 175-run stand was eventually broken by Ben Stokes, who lured Athanaze into a trap. However, Hodge continued to impress, scoring his maiden Test hundred with a brilliant exhibition of stroke play. Holder survived a challenging phase where the ball hooped around, playing and missing several times before Chris Woakes‘ sharp inswinger ended Hodge’s impressive innings.

Also READ: ENG vs WI: Fans laud Kevam Hodge for his sensational maiden century on Day 2 of the Trent Bridge Test

Key moments await on Day 3

As the day concluded, Joshua Da Silva played some attractive strokes to support the Windies’ cause, ensuring they ended the day in a competitive position. England will need to make the second new ball count on Day 3, hoping to quickly dismantle the remaining West Indies batting lineup. Meanwhile, the visitors will aim to stitch together another significant partnership to solidify their position in the Test. The stage is set for an exciting continuation of the match, with both teams vying for control.

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