England blunted by Windies skipper, 2nd test drawn

Barbados, March 21 : England’s chances at a victory was thwarted by West Indies as the second Test in Barbados ended in a draw. Having given themselves two sessions to dismiss West Indies, England took their fifth wicket after tea to set up a tense final hour. However, West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, who scored an 11-hour 160 in the first innings, survived 184 balls for 56 not out to deny England again, but the opener also set a record. The skipper batted for 673 balls across both innings, the most by a West Indies batter in Test history. England, who earlier declared on 122-5 at lunch, reduced West Indies to 39-3 before the gritty right-hander saw off 25 overs with Jermaine Blackwood. In the final session, Jack Leach had Blackwood caught gully for 27 and Jason Holder taken at cover for a duck, but Brathwaite found a dogged partner in wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva, a BBC report said. They survived the next 20.3 overs before the players eventually shook hands with 13 minutes left and the score 135-5. With both Tests in the series so far having ended in almost identical draws, the sides head to the final Test in Grenada on Thursday, with still a 0-0 scoreline. ING

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