Holder hits brilliant 202 n.o. - England chasing mammoth target

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Captain Jason Holder carved out a monumental and entertaining maiden double hundred while Shane Dowrich struck an unbeaten century, as West Indies dominated England and set them an improbable target of 628 runs to win the opening Test here yesterday.

The 27-year-old Holder finished on an unbeaten 202 to become the first West Indies number eight to score a double century as the hosts piled up 415 for six declared in their second innings, to completely demoralise the English on the third day of the contest at Kensington Oval.

Diminutive Dowrich chipped with a compact 116 not out, his third Test century, an innings that ensured West Indies batted nearly 2-1/2 sessions without losing a wicket.

He and Holder, who came together in the final over of Thursday’s second day, put on 295 for the seventh wicket – a record stand against England.

Still adrift

Left with just over hour to navigate before the close, England reached 56 without loss with little alarm at the close, still 571 adrift of their target with two days remaining.

Rory Burns was unbeaten on 39 off 63 balls with eight fours while partner Keaton Jennings was already hunkering down for the long haul, unbeaten on 11 from 57 balls without a single boundary.

However, the day belonged to West Indies who built on their second day supremacy to ensure there was no way back for the stunned English.

Strutting his immense talent like a colossus, Holder hardly put a foot wrong as he overtook each landmark with increasing confidence to stamp West Indies’ authority.

All told, he smashed 23 fours and eight sixes in an innings requiring just 229 balls in 4-¾ hours, to notch only the second double hundred by a West Indies captain against England.

His double hundred was the fastest by a West Indies batsman against the English and only the second by a Windies captain since the iconic Brian Lara.

Dowrich, meanwhile, faced 224 balls in 5-3/4 hours and counted 11 fours and a six.