ENG vs WI Live Score, 1st Test, Day 3

Day 2 showcased England's bowling masterclass, with the home team's attack running through the West Indies batting lineup. Gus Atkinson continued his merry way and picked up a 2-fer with Stokes matching equal tally so far. But the real story? The ageless wonder, Jimmy Anderson. At 41, when most cricketers are reminiscing about their glory days from the comfort of a commentary box, Lancashire's favorite son is still out there, making batter’s lives miserable in his final Test. Anderson's delivery to Kraigg Brathwaite was a masterpiece in motion. With his index finger pointed skyward, he unleashed a ball that nipped back wickedly, sneaking through Brathwaite's defenses. A vivid, swashbuckling demonstration of why he boasts 703 Test wickets.

The first Test of the English Summer and that too, at the Home of Cricket, the Lord’s Cricket Ground, the fans do anticipate a humdinger. But it doesn’t look like one here as the Englishmen have totally outclassed the men from the Caribbean in the first two days. And it is pretty much inevitable now that Ben Stokes and Co will win this because this West Indian inning is going absolutely nowhere. A realistic assessment paints a grim picture for the visitors, their chances of turning this match around are slimmer than a bat's edge. While the scoreboard may not reflect it, these young cricketers flaunting ‘Rally ‘round the West Indies’ are gaining invaluable experience that could shape the future of West Indian cricket.

... DAY 3, SESSION 1 ...

Not a bad day in total for the West Indies but their batting mishap on Wednesday has left them clutching at straws. They bowled well on Day 2, keeping England to a lead of 250 through Jayden Seales' 4-fer, but a poor opening hour and a poor closing hour sees them within the doorstep of a crushing innings defeat. England would be aiming for a professional performance on Friday as well and give James Anderson a perfect sendoff in a fitting Day 3 finish. By the looks of it, the game should not go into the second hour even, given the lack of batting depth that West Indies have, but for the sake of the sport, let's hope we get some competitive cricket to watch. The first ball on DAY 3 will be bowled on Friday, 12th July, 2024 at 3.30 pm IST (1000 GMT), but do tune in early for all the build-up. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

This has been one of the most disciplined bowling performances from England in the past few months. Ben Stokes has a clear principle - not to stray away from the plans and not to give the opposition any freebies. Let the batters come at you and if they can't, just keep hitting the right lengths. He already has a bowling machine in James Anderson who is about to hang his boots while the captain himself led by example bowling 10-4-25-2 in one straight spell. Everyone was excellent except maybe Gus Atkinson a touch, who was not as disciplined as in the first innings.

Another frenetic session for West Indies with the bat. They started off very watchfully, trying to keep the overs faced and the runs scored in parity, with the run rate trundling along at almost run-an-over for the first hour. Crucially though, they were keeping wickets in hand, until Anderson burst through the defenses of Brathwaite. That opened the door for breakthroughs as apart for a brief resistance between Alick Athanaze and Jason Holder, there was barely any fight. Cannot say they played rash shots but unfortunately for them, they were no match for the skill of the bowlers in front of them. They tried to be disciplined but eventually were broken through.

Well, after all the deliberate delays from both sides, it is England who walk back grabbing all the honours of the day. Couldn't have been more poetic - first Stokes delays the start of the over, then the two batters ensure that this is the last over of the day before a perfect field change snaps a wicket right when the clock strikes 6.30 pm in London. The visitors are now 6 down and with a deficit of 171 runs, it is going to be an uphill battle to see off even a session on Friday, let alone avoid innings defeat. England get together and give a bit of an ovation to James Anderson and come Friday, it could be the last time we see the great man bowl.

Gus Atkinson to Jason Holder, OUT! CAUGHT! Gus Atkinson picks up his second wicket of the innings, this one though has been created out of nothing. The ploy of getting Ollie Pope at short leg has brought them a wicket here. Gus Atkinson dishes a short ball, around middle, which gets big on Holder, who is already a very tall lad. Jason Holder gets his blade very high and ends up chipping it in front of short leg. Ollie Pope there dives in front of him to take a stunner. West Indies are teetering at 79/6 at the end of DAY 2. THAT WILL BE STUMPS.

West Indies make their contributions. Joshua Da Silva walks down the pitch, calls his partner Jason Holder for a chat and both exchange smiles. This surely now will be the final over of the day.

Gus Atkinson to Jason Holder, Another dot ball now, as Holder ends up defending this short ball from inside the crease here.

Gus Atkinson to Jason Holder, Sharp bumper this time, around off. Holder ducks under this one.

Gus Atkinson to Jason Holder, Gus Atkinson dishes a length ball, in the corridor of uncertainty here. Jason Holder looks to defend it out, but misses.

Gus Atkinson to Joshua Da Silva, And indeed it is a short ball, on the body, Joshua Da Silva takes it on and pulls it to deep square leg for a single. He moves to 20 now. He also racks up 1000 runs in Test cricket with this single.

Stokes taking plenty of time to set the field. 4 minutes left on the clock. Seems like this will be the last over of the day. The field is set for short-pitched bowling.

Chris Woakes to Joshua Da Silva, Touch fuller, outside off. Joshua Da Silva taps it to covers and crosses for a single.

Chris Woakes to Joshua Da Silva, Back of a length this time, outside off, shaping away a bit. Joshua Da Silva looks to hook it away but gets beaten by some extra bounce here.

Chris Woakes to Joshua Da Silva, Another dot ball now. A slower one this time, full and on off. Joshua Da Silva gets on his front foot and sees it out.

Chris Woakes to Joshua Da Silva, Chris Woakes serves a length ball, in the channel. Joshua Da Silva gets it to mid on off the inner half.

Chris Woakes to Joshua Da Silva, Length, around off. blocked out to point by Joshua Da Silva.

Chris Woakes to Jason Holder, Full ball, around off. Holder drives it to the left of mid off and hares to the other end. Ben Stokes is quick in the field. He rushes to his left, picks up the ball, rotates and throws the ball at the non-striker's end but the ball flies on top of the stumps. Jason Holder survives here. Direct hit and he was surely a goner here.

Gus Atkinson to Jason Holder, Back of a length, on the pads. Holder tucks it behind square on the leg side for one.

Gus Atkinson to Jason Holder, A bit fuller this time, outside off. Holder drives it into the off side but only to find the fielder at extra covers.

Gus Atkinson to Jason Holder, Gus Atkinson once again bends his back hard and serves a bouncer, around off. Holder leaves it alone.

Gus Atkinson to Jason Holder, An inswinging delivery, full and on middle. Holder drills it down the park. Gus Atkinson gets low quickly and stop the ball with one hand in his follow through.

Gus Atkinson to Jason Holder, A sharp bouncer here from Gus Atkinson. Holder ducks under it.

Gus Atkinson to Jason Holder, FOUR! A very good-looking shot this one. It is a fuller delivery, on off. Jason Holder strides forward and times it to perfection as the ball goes through the gap at covers for a boundary.

Double change. Gus Atkinson gets one more chance to add to his tally for the day. 13 minutes left on the clock. Maybe, we might have 3 more overs bowled. 6-1-21-1 so far.

Chris Woakes to Joshua Da Silva, A maiden over for Woakes on his return into the attack. A length ball, around off. Joshua Da Silva nudges it into the leg side.

Chris Woakes to Joshua Da Silva, This one just gets that extra bounce off the surface this time. A length ball, outside off which catches the shoulder of Joshua Da Silva's blade and rolls towards point.

Chris Woakes to Joshua Da Silva, Full and straight around off. Joshua Da Silva gets behind and blocks it well.

Chris Woakes to Joshua Da Silva, Woakes starts his second spell with three dots here. Fuller one, on the pads. Joshua Da Silva flicks it into mid-wicket for no run.

Chris Woakes to Joshua Da Silva, A bit shorter this time, on middle. Joshua Da Silva hangs back and clips it to mid-wicket for no run.

Chris Woakes to Joshua Da Silva, Chris Woakes goes wide of the crease here and angled in a length ball, around off and gets it to shape away. Joshua Da Silva blocks it out solidly.

Finally. A break for Stokes after a 10-over spell. Chris Woakes is back on, for a final burst for the day. Just 17 minutes left for the close. 5-2-9-0 so far. 9 overs left, meaning, we are bound to have 4 or 5 overs lost.

James Anderson to Jason Holder, James Anderson ends his tenth over with five dots on the trot. It is a good-length ball, on off. Jason Holder stays back and defends it to point.

James Anderson to Jason Holder, Back of a length, outside off, nipping away a bit. Holder gets it towards gully off the outside edge.

James Anderson to Jason Holder, Goes full this time, outside off. Holder steps forward and drives it to mid off but fails to hit it through the gap.

James Anderson to Jason Holder, Length ball around off. Holder blocks it back to the bowler here.

James Anderson to Jason Holder, It is pitched up, full and on off. Jason Holder drives it down the park, with full face of the bat. James Anderson though stretches his right leg and stops the ball with his feet here.

James Anderson to Joshua Da Silva, James Anderson goes full, angled into the pads here. Joshua Da Silva flicks it through mid-wicket for a single here.

It was indeed a nice setup from Anderson to get rid of Alick Athanaze. In the first innings, Athanaze played at a delivery which was 5th or 6th stump outside off and nicked one to the slip cordon. This one was not as wide but was somewhere around that channel again and he nicked off again.

Ben Stokes to Jason Holder, Outside off, eased behind point for a couple.

Ben Stokes to Jason Holder, Outside off, pushed towards the off side.

Ben Stokes to Jason Holder, Down the leg side, Holder misses his tuck. The ball goes off his pads towards fine leg. Two runs taken, leg byes signalled.

Ben Stokes to Jason Holder, FOUR! SWEET! Aesthetically pleasing from Jason Holder. Double bluff from Stokes. He pushed square leg back just before this ball, probably trying to indicate that he is going to bowl short. But instead, he bowls it full. However, Holder is well set now and reads the length perfectly. Comes forward, gets to the pitch of the ball and drives it through the covers. NO BALL SIGNALLED AS WELL. The stand moves to 11 from 6 balls. Holder moves to 12 from 40 balls.

Ben Stokes to Jason Holder, Full and straight, Holder pushes at this with his bat and pad close together and gets it off the inner half of the bat towards mid on.

Ben Stokes to Jason Holder, Similar delivery, pushed towards the off side again, this time much squarer.

Ben Stokes to Jason Holder, On a good length, outside off, Jason Holder defends it towards cover.

James Anderson to Joshua Da Silva, FOUR! SUBLIME! This time he finds the gap. Full and outside off, swinging in, da Silva comes forward and drives it straight back past the bowler and this time, the man from extra cover cannot cover the distance to his right. The deficit is now 189.

James Anderson to Joshua Da Silva, Inswinger, outside off, fuller in length, da Silva drives it down the ground. Sets off for a single but then changes his mind, seeing cover get to the ball quickly.