England in West Indies: Tourists bowlers blunted on attritional second day in Antigua

West Indies were 127-4 before an unbroken partnership lasting 31.4 overs from Bonner and Holder took the hosts to the close

A mixed showing from England's bowlers allowed West Indies to edge an attritional second day of the first Test in Antigua.

The tourists took 4-44 in the afternoon session but struggled otherwise as West Indies closed on 202-4, 109 runs behind.

Without James Anderson and Stuart Broad, England were wayward with the new ball and the hosts raced to 83-0, captain Kraigg Brathwaite making 55 from 70 balls.

England's seamers, helped by some poor shot-making, wrestled back the momentum but Nkrumah Bonner and Jason Holder blunted the bowling in the final session with a watchful, unbroken stand of 75.

England had earlier added 43 runs for their last four wickets before being dismissed for 311.

Jonny Bairstow, who resumed on 109, was last man out for 140, while 20-year-old seamer Jayden Seales took 4-79 for the hosts at the start of a day interrupted by a series of short rain delays.

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West Indies hold the edge

Day one was all about whether England's batters could respond to their Ashes humiliation. After West Indies quickly wrapped up the lower-order in the morning session, attention turned to England's new-look bowling attack on day two.

Once England chose to look to the future and leave Anderson and Broad, their two leading wicket-takers in Tests who have shown little sign of slowing down, out of this series comparisons were always going to be made.

Ultimately, despite all taking a wicket, this seam attack of Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Mark Wood and all-rounder Ben Stokes allowed West Indies to move into the ascendency.

In the veterans' absence, Woakes was the leader of the attack but was particularly wayward on a slow pitch with little support through the air.

Overton, opening the bowling for England for the first time, rarely threatened either side of making the first breakthrough. He had opener John Campbell caught down the leg side for 35.

Wood carried the most threat, as ever bowling with express pace.

He produced a probing spell of reverse swing after tea but Holder, who scored a double century on England's last tour to the Caribbean, frustrated the tourists again and, having come in at 127-4 with England on top, found able support in 33-year-old Bonner, playing his 10th Test

Holder ended unbeaten on 43 and Bonner 34, ensuring West Indies hold the edge in this Test.

England fight back after woeful start

Woakes ended with figures of 1-54 from 12 overs

The fact England limited the scoring ensured West Indies were not able to pull away after being gifted a quick start.

In a 10-over spell before lunch England failed to hold their line and length or create opportunities.

Brathwaite, usually the grittiest of openers, was able to race to his fastest Test fifty from 62 balls, the bowling sprayed down both sides of the wicket.

Left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who was accurate but largely unthreatening throughout, was brought on after just eight overs and all five bowlers were used by 23 overs.

Sparked into life by Overton's bouncer to dismiss Campbell, England did improve, however.

Wood unsettled Brathwaite with a bumper and the opener slashed a full, wide ball to gully. Shamarh Brooks nicked Stokes to first slip for 18 and Woakes had Jermaine Blackwood caught after a review showed a looped catch taken at gully had flicked inside edge before thigh pad.

The slow pitch and a softening ball did not help England's quest for wickets late in the day.

Earlier, Bairstow did at least ensure they passed 300 for the first time this winter at the sixth attempt before he skied a catch off Alzarri Joseph when trying to add quick lower-order runs.

'Our lengths were poor' - reaction

England bowler Mark Wood: "It was a little bit indifferent. There were parts we bowled really well and parts we were disappointed with how we bowled. The first 15-20 overs we didn't get it right. When we came back after lunch we did really well.

"There is so much talk around Broad and Anderson we know we are going to be compared to them. We have to do our best. We are never going to be a Jimmy and Broady.

"The disappointing bit for us is we didn't get the start right."

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew: "I can understand Chris Woakes being nervous. For years it has been Broad and Anderson. He has enormous boots to fill.

"It is a very slow pitch. There is nothing in it at all.

"It was a very valuable partnership between Bonner and Holder. The second new ball will probably determine whether England have a lead out of this."

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