Resilient Joshua Da Silva gives West Indies narrow lead over England

Grenada is playing host to an absorbing series decider between West Indies and England, if not always by way of quality out in the middle then certainly in terms of injecting some much needed Caribbean soul into proceedings.

The steel drummers have been wonderfully relentless and the locals have already turned up in good numbers for what is the island’s first Test match in seven years; the arrival of the weekend promises a further rise here, so too a match situation which, after two topsy-turvy days, appears on a knife edge.

Those who are drawn to the National Cricket Stadium in St George’s first thing will see West Indies resume on 232 for eight, with a lead of 28 over their visitors. It follows three hard-fought sessions of cricket that, like the previous day, saw a top-order collapse offset by a feisty rearguard down the order.

Joshua Da Silva, the young Trinidadian wicketkeeper who says he is loving every second of his first taste of a proper crowd in Test cricket, will start out unbeaten on 54 from 152 balls. He had played beautifully in the final session, marshalling stands of 49 with Alzarri Joseph (28) and then an unbeaten one of 55 with Kemar Roach, 25 not out, like an old pro.

Da Silva is a bit of an imposter at No 8, it must be said, having dropped down the West Indies batting card due to the inclusion of two all-rounders. But as an insurance policy, the 23-year-old has worked wonders here, arriving with his side on 95 for six – 109 runs behind – and changing the complexion of the day.

Obduracy was his default setting but when the right-hander took on the second new ball before the close, whipping Craig Overton through mid-wicket for a stylish four that brought up his fourth Test half-century, England’s attack