Root, Stoneman fight as Windies edge ahead: 2nd Test, Day 3 (Leeds)

Mark Stoneman struck his maiden England fifty as England toiled hard to wipe out the Windies' first-innings lead, to close on 171-3.

Newcomer Stoneman (52) and former skipper Alastair Cook (23) shared a half-century opening stand before 3 quick wickets set the hosts on the backfoot.

Joe Root (45no) dug in and fought back, aided by Dawid Malan (21no) as they put on an unbeaten 77 run stand to steady England.

Earlier, James Anderson (5-76) dismissed Shai Hope (147) and Shane Dowrich (0) with his first two balls, to claim a 23rd Test five-for and move on to 497 Test scalps. Skipper Holder (43) and Jermaine Blackwood (49) posted an eighth-wicket stand of 75 to take the Windies to 427, a lead of 169 runs.

England 258 and 171 for 3 (Root 45*, Malan 21*) lead West Indies 427 (S Hope 147, Brathwaite 134, Anderson 5-76) by two runs.

Aug 2017