Roach destroys England as Windies take command

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Seamer Kemar Roach’s ninth career five-wicket haul sent a shell-shocked England reeling for a record low at Kensington Oval, as 18 wickets tumbled on a dramatic second day of the opening Test here yesterday.

In a sensational session after lunch, England lost their last nine wickets for 47 runs to crash from 30 for one to 77 all out, 15 minutes before the scheduled tea interval, with the 30-year-old Roach claiming five for 17 in a brilliant spell.

Captain Jason Holder (2-15) and fellow seamer Alzarri Joseph (2-20) grabbed two wickets apiece to support Roach.

England’s total was their fourth lowest against West Indies, handing the hosts a healthy lead of 212 runs.

Opting not to enforce the follow on, West Indies lost precious wickets to end the day on 127 for six, still a crucial lead of 339 runs heading into today's pivotal third day.

They were well placed at 52 without loss but lost five quick wickets for nine runs in the space of 28 deliveries, before Shimron Hetmyer (31) and Shane Dowrich (27 not out) added an invaluable 59 for the sixth wicket to frustrate England.

The left-handed Hetmyer had earlier top-scored with 81 as West Indies were dismissed for 289 just shy of the hour mark in the first session.

Resuming on 56 with the Windies on 264 for eight, the 22-year-old was last out after edging a heave at seamer Ben Stokes (4-59) to be caught by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes jumping high to his left.

He faced 109 balls in just over 2-½ hours, striking nine fours and two sixes.

Faced with just under an hour to navigate before lunch, England lost left-hander Keaton Jennings for 17, nine minutes before the interval, when he sliced seamer Jason Holder to Shai Hope at gully.

The visitors reached the break at 30 for one but there was still no sign of the carnage to come, even when opener Rory Burns played on to the fourth ball after lunch from Roach without adding to his two.

However, Roach then scythed through the middle order in a period of sheer horror for the visitors, as they lost five wickets for five runs in the space of 45 balls.SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES 1st Innings

(overnight 264 for eight)

S. Hetmyer c wk Foakes b Anderson 81

+S. Dowrich c Buttler b Anderson 0

*J. Holder c & b Anderson 5

K. Roach c Root b Stokes 0

A. Joseph c Buttler b Anderson 0

S. Gabriel not out 0

Extras (lb5, nb1) 6

Total (all out, 101.3 overs) 289

Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-126, 3-128, 4-174, 5-240, 6-250, 7-261, 8-264, 9-289, 10-289.

Bowling: Anderson 30-13-46-5, Curran 12-3-54-0, Stokes 25.3-2-59-4, Moeen Ali 12-1-59-1, Rashid 17-1-56-0, Root 5-0-10-0.

ENGLAND 1st Innings

R. Burns b Roach 2

K. Jennings c Hope b Holder 17

J. Bairstow b Roach 12

*J. Root lbw b Holder 4

B. Stokes lbw b Roach 0

J. Buttler c wk Dowrich b Roach 4

Moeen Ali c Joseph b Roach 0

+B. Foakes c wk Dowrich b Joseph 2

S. Curran c Hope b Gabriel 14

A. Rashid c Holder b Joseph 12

J. Anderson not out 0

Extras (b4, lb6) 10

TOTAL (all out, 30.2 overs) 77

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-35, 3-44, 4-44, 5-48, 6-48, 7-49, 8-61, 9-73, 10-77.

Bowling: Roach 11-7-17-5, Gabriel 7-2-15-1, Holder 8-3-15-2, Joseph 4.2-1-20-2.

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings

K. Brathwaite lbw b Moeen Ali 24

J. Campbell c Jennings b Stokes 33

S. Hope c Jennings b Stokes 3

D. Bravo c Stokes b Moeen Ali 1

R. Chase c Stokes b Moeen Ali 0

S. Hetmyer c Buttler b Curran 31

+S. Dowrich not out 27

*J. Holder not out 27

Extras (b1) 1

TOTAL (6 wkts, 36 overs) 127

Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-60, 3-61, 4-61, 5-61, 6-120.

Bowling: Anderson 4-1-9-0, Curran 7-0-28-1, Moeen Ali 12-2-41-3, Stokes 11-2-31-2, Rashid 2-0-17-0.

Position: West Indies lead by 339 runs.

Toss: West Indies.

Umpires: Rod Tucker, Chris Gaffaney; TV – Kumar Dharmasena.