Summary

  • England close on 171-3 - a lead of two runs

  • Root & Malan share unbroken stand of 77

  • Both batsmen reprieved - Root dropped & overturns lbw dismissal

  • Stoneman hits maiden Test 50 but Westley (8) fails again

  • Eng 258: Stokes 100; WI 427: S Hope 147

  1. Postpublished at 19:10 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    So basically it all points towards a thriller.

    I can't wait to find out what happens on these final two days. It's the thriller no one expected.

    You can read Jack's report here but we are going to call it a day on this page. We will be back tomorrow at 10:30 BST.

    See you then. Don't miss it.

  2. Postpublished at 19:07 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    Graeme Swann
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    We've been desperate for a game of cricket as good as this all summer.

  3. England eye a lead of 200published at 19:05 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    More from England batsman Mark Stoneman: "We're pretty happy with where we find ourselves. But we want as many runs as possible.

    "If we get up to 200 ahead with the quality of our seam attack then we're definitely in the game.

    "But we have to keep building and put the pressure back on them."

  4. Postpublished at 19:02 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    The new ball is 21 overs away in the morning, which will take us to about 20 minutes before lunch.

  5. 'The physio just popped it back in'published at 19:00 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    England opener Mark Stoneman on his dislocated finger: "Trying to bend my hand in the glove, I thought something's not right - I was worried and fearing the worst.

    "But the physio got it straight back in and I was good to go.

    "There's something there for the bowlers and it was a case of grinding it out.

    "It's been quite a long road to get here and it's about embracing every opportunity once I'm here.

    "After the first innings, I was disappointed but once I got through the first 20 balls of this one you forgot about the scrutiny and it was nice to get into the contest more and forget about what else goes on."

  6. Postpublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    West Indies captain Jason Holder: "The position we're in is pretty decent.

    "We've done a lot of talking - I urged us to be a lot more patient, both in batting and bowling, and I feel we have really showed that in this game.

    "The first hour tomorrow is crucial. We have to be aggressive and disciplined. We can't let Root get into his flow and we have to hold our chances."

  7. Postpublished at 18:58 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    And this is what the players have had to say about it all...

  8. Postpublished at 18:57 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    There were a couple of moments which went England's way in that last session - Joe Root being dropped and then West Indies failing to review when Dawid Malan edged behind.

  9. Postpublished at 18:57 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    Dawid Malan was the first to escape. He feathered an edge behind but it wasn't given. West Indies considered a review but thought against it.

    Then Root was dropped. It was a simple chance in the slips for Kyle Hope.

    And there was still time for more drama.

    Root was given out lbw but he reviewed immediately. England are lucky he did. The ball was shown to be going down leg side and the skipper was reprieved.

  10. Postpublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I like Dawid Malan. He played well at Edgbaston then played a poor shot in the first innings here. He's got an opportunity now. He played with control and was digging in. Now he has to start on 0 not out tomorrow, get a score and if he does that he could quite easily be given an opportunity at three. That would allow Alex Hales to come back into the side at number five.

  11. Strong finish from Malan and Rootpublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    At that stage West Indies were well on top. England were 94-3, still trailing by 75, and the tourists' bowling was excellent.

    But Joe Root and Dawid Malan were patient and also took the boundary opportunities when they came.

    The pair batted through to the close and took England into a narrow lead but it was not without a few scares...

  12. How's stat?!published at 18:52 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

  13. Postpublished at 18:51 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    Dan Norcross
    BBC Test Match Special

    The manner of Westley's dismissal, and what happened in the previous 10 minutes, felt terminal for his career.

  14. Postpublished at 18:51 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    But Stoneman was given out controversially.

    Was Shannon Gabriel's foot behind the line?

    The third umpire thought so. Make your own mind up. It was tight.

    As for Tom Westley, it was not so impressive. He was almost involved in a shambles of a run out and fell for eight with a poor shot.

  15. Postpublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Stoneman was very impressive. He played with great control. He's a dasher at county level but he played with nice restraint. I've seen enough that he should play in Australia as an opening batsman. Westley is a problem. You always felt he was vulnerable to a ball in the channel. Because of the pressure he is under, he fished to a wide one.

  16. Postpublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    That meant England started their second innings with a deficit for 169.

    They started well. Opener Mark Stoneman played very well for his 52 - his maiden Test half-century. He blunted the West Indies attack early on and took a blow in the meantime.

    He may just have booked himself on the plane Down Under.

  17. Postpublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    England started perfectly.

    James Anderson took two wickets on the first two balls and England looked like they could knock the Windies over.

    But the drop of Jermaine Blackwood by Moeen Ali was crucial.

    West Indies were able to add almost 100 in the morning session before being bowled out, mostly through Blackwood and Jason Holder.

  18. Postpublished at 18:41 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    Right. So much has happened today that I am struggling to remember all of it.

    Let's jog our memories with a look at the highlights.

  19. Postpublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    Michael Vaughan
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    You feel if somebody in the England camp can make 75-80 then England might have enough. I think they will get a decent score now and it'll be a case of whether West Indies can deal with the pressure. Anything in excess of 150 and there'll be a lot of pressure with James Anderson and Stuart Broad charging in.

  20. Postpublished at 18:38 British Summer Time 27 August 2017

    Joe Root and Dawid MalanImage source, Rex Features

    Everyone has been pretty rubbish in predicting how this Test match would go but I reckon we're in for a classic.

    England will return tomorrow scrapping to stretch that lead with Root and Malan at the crease.

    So far they have put on a very good 77. We are quick to criticise so Malan deserves a lot of praise for his 21.