Nkrumah Bonner defies England to put West Indies in driving seat

The third day in Antigua was one that England’s bowlers will be keen to wipe from their memory banks but one that Nkrumah Bonner will never forget as his second Test century ground West Indies into a position of strength.

Over the course of nine hours Bonner repelled all that Joe Root’s attack threw at him only to perish just before the close. It took the loopy, wrong-footed off-spin of Dan Lawrence to prise him out, a tickle down leg given out on review, but with 125 from 355 balls he had steered the host to 373 for nine and a lead of 62.

“It means a lot for me,” said Bonner at stumps. “Looking back at my stats before this series I had not scored major runs in the Caribbean, so am very happy I stepped forward. It’s a good venue, a good pitch to bat on. Tomorrow we want to bat for an hour, get a 100-run lead to put pressure on the English batsmen.”

At 157 overs this is already the longest innings England have spent in the field during what continues to be a winter of discontent. Though the draw looks likeliest, it could have a telling impact on the fate of the series too after an elbow injury to Mark Wood that Joe Root a bowler light for the bulk of the proceedings and put significant miles into the legs of others.

The one Englishman to enhance his reputation in Australia, Wood was absent when West Indies resumed on 202 for four first thing, eventually emerging with a white tubigrip and strapping on his bowling arm. He seemed fine during an initial four-over burst but shortly after the second new ball he sent down six more deliveries that were down on pace and forced his exit.

Stokes was initially slated for a reduced role with the ball on his comeback from a side strain but picked up the slack, chalking up 28 overs of