Regular strikes leave England in spot of bother

Lawrence was dismissed at the stroke of Lunch © AFP
West Indies fast bowlers made merry on the first morning on a helpful surface in Grenada where the curator left some live grass on. England openers Alex Lees and Zak Crawley had a challenging start to the session after Kraigg Brathwaite opted to bowl, as the West Indies quicks challenged both edges of the bat with appreciable seam movement.

Kyle Mayers, playing his first Test of the series, broke through on either side of the first-hour mark - dismissing Crawley and the in-form Joe Root. England's plans of escaping to Lunch break without further damage were rendered futile, as Jayden Seales trapped Daniel Lawrence leg before just two overs before the break.

So starved were the bowlers of such friendly conditions that when they eventually got it in Grenada, West Indies' overzealousness saw them burn two reviews in the first session. Both for lbw appeals - first against Zak Crawley and then against Lawrence - on deliveries that missed the stumps by a fair margin. Umpire Joel Wilson was unmoved on both occasions and his decision vindicated by the TV umpire.

For 12 overs, the England openers cautiously saw off deliveries that seamed both ways, until a scrambled seam delivery from Mayers invoked a tame uppish cover drive from Crawley and brought the first breakthrough. Perhaps the more satisfying wicket for Mayers came in the first over after drinks, when he left Joe Root uncertain whether to commit forward or offer judgement to another cross seam ball on the fourth stump line. The England captain, in the midst of his incredible run in the format, ended up nicking it to the keeper to trudge back for a nine-ball duck. Mayers finished the session with five overs, five maidens and two wickets.

Lawrence couldn't drag himself till the first intermission, as he was undone by the pace and sharp inward movement off the seam for Seales. He was trapped plumb for 8 off 32, as England finished the morning session with 46 for 3.

Brief Scores: England 46 for 3 (Alex Lees 26; Kyle Mayers 2-0) vs West Indies