England collapse again as West Indies look good for series victory

England’s brittle batting was in danger of costing them another series after Josh Da Silva’s gritty century put the West Indies in control of the decisive third Test in Grenada.

The tourists collapsed to 43 for four on the third afternoon after a miserable morning session saw them buckle under the weight of Da Silva’s magnificent 100 not out, celebrated with tears in his eyes in front of a feverish home crowd.

A thoroughly uninspired attack allowed the lead to swell from 28 overnight to 93 over the course of two-and-a-quarter hours, with flat bowling and passive captaincy allowing the Trinidadian wicketkeeper to dictate terms.

They had at least been shown how to perform in these conditions but their response lacked the clarity and determination that worked so well for Da Silva and, by tea, their top order had imploded.

Kyle Mayers starred with the ball, turning his canny medium-pacers into lethal weapons as Joe Root, Dan Lawrence and Ben Stokes took turns to come undone. Zak Crawley had earlier been hustled out in a maddeningly predictable manner by Jayden Seales.

With opener Alex Lees and Jonny Bairstow at the crease there was still some hope of resistance, but it would now take a rousing shift in fortunes to get out of jail and avoid a winless winter in the Test arena.

With the West Indies 232 for eight and the second new ball just four overs old, England started the day with designs on two quick wickets and a swift change of innings.

Saqib Mahmood came close to delivering, getting the stubborn Kemar Roach caught behind in his initial burst and then trapping last man Seales in front of leg stump.

Had the umpire’s finger gone up, England would have been batting again with a deficit of 41 but with a shake of the head and