Brathwaite and Blackwood lead recovery to frustrate England

A lack of local supporters among the Bridgetown crowd has been a source of lament but those who did pitch up on the third day were treated to a pair of fine centuries from Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood that left England’s bowlers once again searching for answers on the road.

Brathwaite would struggle to make an all-time Barbados XI, such is the rich history of cricket on this island and the talent it has produced over the years. The West Indies captain is not an opener to be underestimated, however, and over the course of nine and a half hours he repelled all-comers, reaching the close unbeaten 109 from 337 balls for what was his 10th Test century and his third against England.

By this stage he had lost Blackwood, his No 5, after an uncharacteristically resolute innings of 102 from 215 balls had been ended by the loopy off-spin of Dan Lawrence, lbw offering no shot. It was a bizarre miscalculation and a bonus for England’s weary players. But as their supporters headed off to the Friday night fish fry at Oistins, West Indies were 288 for four from 117 overs in reply to England’s 507 for nine declared, needing 20 more runs to avoid the follow-on.

A draw looms on another docile pitch, one that will earn much-needed revenues for the Barbados Cricket Association. But England had a couple of opportunities to break a fourth-wicket partnership of 183 from 68 overs that started out from 101 for three in the morning session and led to some words being exchanged between Blackwood and Ben Stokes after tea, such was the frustration it created.

The first of these came when Blackwood was yet to score and struck in front of the stumps by Stokes amid a thundering six-over spell during the second hour. With the naked eye it