The much-awaited Test series between England and West Indies that marked the return of international cricket after four long months has become more exciting as the hosts England now finds themselves in a strong position in the second day of the second Test match after going down 1-0 in the first Test match in Ageas Bowl, thanks to a brilliant partnership between England vice-captain Ben Stokes and opener Dom Sibley. Both of them have crossed the hundred mark and have started to accelerate their slow and steady innings. Stokes shifted his gears by playing an outrageous shot for six through long-on against the bowling of Alzarri Joseph.
England found themselves in full control on Day 2 of the second Test match in Manchester as star all-rounder Ben Stokes and opening batsman Dom Sibley stitched a longstanding partnership of 260 runs. It marked Ben Stokes 10th Test century, while this was Dom Sibley’s second Test hundred and was the fifth slowest overall in terms of balls faced, he took 312 balls to reach the hundred mark.
This match-saving effort from both these batsmen came in after Windies spinner Roston Chase ran through the English batting lineup dismissing opener Rory Burns and young Zak Crawley cheaply on Day 1. Meanwhile the England captain Joe Root got out playing a loose shot against Alzarri Joseph.
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Stokes and Sibley batted out each session patiently by capitalizing only on the bad balls bowled by the Windies bowling attack. After getting to the century, both of them shifted their gears and started attacking more. Even though Sibley got out on 120 runs to Chase by doing so, Stokes is still hanging there quite comfortably.
During this well-fought innings, Ben Stokes played an outrageous shot that went for six with ease against the bowling of Alzarri Joseph. He played this flamboyant shot in the 115th over. Joseph bowled a full delivery which the southpaw lofted towards long-on with ease. It was nothing more than a punch with a straight bat. From the look of it seemed like a handsome four, but to even Stoke’s surprise, it went over the ropes with little effort. Stokes looks completely in control of his innings now and has crossed the 150 run mark. Considering the rate with which he is accelerating his innings he is expected to reach his double century soon.
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