Kemar Roach, the Windies pacer, returned 4/48 on the second day in the third and final Test against England to bundle them out for 277 in the first innings. He also scored a useful 16* with the bat to help take the Windies total to 154.
It was an action-packed day in St Lucia, as 16 wickets fell to blow the match wide open. England, at 19/0 in the second innings, now lead the hosts by 142 runs.
England found themselves in a strong position after the first day, having built a foundation at 231/4. However, the Windies bowling attack, spearheaded by Roach, fought back on the second day to claim the remaining six wickets within 46 runs.
“I didn’t get the wickets yesterday so I guess you could say I made up for it today,” said Roach after the day’s play on Sunday, 10 February. “We had specific plans and we knew where we had to bowl. Somebody had to do it this morning and again I was happy to make a contribution for the team.
With 17 wickets at an average of 12.29, Roach is the highest wicket-taker in the series so far. He revealed he has been working on his technique to try and claim more scalps in the second innings. “I have been working hard on this technical stuff and it has been working for me,” the pacer said.
“My biggest problem was obviously getting wickets in the second innings, but I have been doing that quite [well] in this series. Hopefully, I can come in tomorrow and do the same thing for the Windies. I’m happy with the maximum effort I put in all the way through this series. It has been hard work, has been a tough series, day in and day out, but we reaped rewards.”
he Windies were bowled out in 47.2 overs in the second innings, as Mark Wood clinched a five-wicket haul to slice through the batting line-up. Shane Dowrich made a patient 38 in the middle order, building a crucial 41-run partnership with Roach for the eighth wicket. Their stand helped the home side scrape past the 140-run mark. Roach also added nine runs with Alzarri Joseph and Shannon Gabriel to take the total to a fighting 154.
“I played well with the bat, I had to, we needed someone to hang around with Dowrich at that stage and I believe we’re still in it,” added Roach, who played out 43 deliveries to remain unbeaten on 16. “We need a big effort tomorrow morning, we’re 2-0 up but we want to win 3-0. It showed in Barbados and Antigua that we can do it.
“It was a great day of cricket – Broad also held a nice one in the deep and Wood bowled a very good spell for England. Anything under 300 will be fantastic [to chase]. We want to come here tomorrow and obviously put in a good performance. I think the guys have it in them.”
