West Indies 299 & 202-2
England 464 (after day four)
After four days of the 2nd Test in Grenada, a draw is looking to be the most likely outcome of the current tussle between the cricketers from the West Indies and England. Despite belatedly posting a massive score of 464 in their 1st innings, England were unable to take the early wickets they had hoped for when their opponents batted again. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite (101) was largely responsible for their defiance, as his five-hour century vigil ensured that the middle order was not exposed too soon.
Earlier, Joe Root had continued his wonderful innings to reach an unbeaten 182 at the close, despite three chaotic run outs occurring while he was at the crease.
England had begun day four of this rain-affected Test in a healthy position on 373-6. They were looking for quick runs and then either an early declaration or, as ultimately proved to be the case, the natural end to their innings. Yorkshire's finest, Root continued to amass runs at one end of the wicket, moving on from his 118 overnight score to once again pass the 150 mark.
His partners came and went as the innings tailed off somewhat towards the end. Jos Buttler made an unusually steady (for him) 13 runs from 30 balls before being stumped by Denesh Ramdin off the bowling of Devendra Bishoo.
Chris Jordan (16) shared a stand of 39 with Root before becoming the 2nd of England's men to be run out, after Moeen Ali's shambolic dismissal on day three. Stuart Broad lasted just four balls before going for a duck. That left England's leading wicket-taker in Tests, James Anderson to get his side up to the 450 mark. They achieved that landmark, mainly due to Root dominating their last-wicket partnership of 33, as Anderson's share was just 2 runs.
Typical of the frenetic close to England's time at the crease, the final wicket on 464 was yet another run out. Anderson failed to make his ground due to smart work by Shannon Gabriel. Bishoo bowled tirelessly for his four-wicket haul from 51 overs.
Despite England's innings perhaps being 40 runs shy of the 500 target that they may have started the day looking for, West Indies lost an early wicket to buck their spirits up.
Anderson roared in to clean bowl opener Devon Smith for just 2 runs, just the start that captain Alastair Cook was looking for. That elation proved premature though, as a patient stand of 142 between Brathwaite and Darren Bravo settled the home side's nerves and looks to have taken the victory out of England's reach already. Capturing the wicket of Bravo for 69, as Broad found an edge through to wicketkeeper Buttler, gave them some hope of regaining the advantage. Yet, the relatively untroubled unbeaten stand between Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels of 57 edged the Caribbean side ahead of England.
