On Saturday, England were in a commanding position as they raced to a 94-run first-innings lead over the West Indies before thrashing the tourists 33-2 at stumps on the second day of the third Test at Edgbaston.
England were 38-3 on the night and scored 376 runs in the final 80 minutes of play with the wickets of skipper Craig Brathwaite and the struggling Kirk McKenzie before the West Indies top order entered.
Michael Lewis (18 not out) and Alec Athanase, unbeaten on five, will resume the West Indies’ second innings on Sunday, with the tourists trailing by 61 runs.
England bowled six balls as Chris Woakes bowled Brathwaite for no score while McKenzie’s poor form continued as he was caught off Gus Atkinson for eight.
Earlier, Jamie Smith and Joe Root both fell agonizingly short of a Test century, while Ben Stokes and Christopher Roger Woakes also scored half-centuries in a day that started badly for England but quickly dominated the field. Turned around as they looked for a clean sweep. The series
Smith was bowled five runs short of a maiden Test century while Root scored 87 as England clawed back from 54 runs at 5-5 to post a West Indies first innings total of 282.
The 24-year-old Smith, playing his third Test, looked thoroughly experienced with an array of attacking shots as he headed towards the milestone, only to be undone by Shamar Joseph’s off-cutter that stayed low and His stumps were taken out.
The unlucky Smith took 109 balls to score 95, helping England overtake the West Indies’ score and start to take a useful lead.
Smith came on as Root and captain Stokes put together a 115-run sixth-wicket partnership that pulled England back from a precarious position after losing two early wickets.
Stokes was out for 54 in the third over after lunch, caught by Brathwaite off Al-Zarri Joseph, his 100th Test wicket, after a mis-pull by the captain, produced a simple catch at square leg. Smith and Root then added 62 runs in the seventh over. His partnership with the wicket came to an end when Root was caught in the first leg by left-arm spinner Gadkesh Moti.
Smith and Woakes continued the tempo, Woakes scoring 62 on his home ground.
Alzarri Joseph was the best among the tourists bowlers with 4-122.
England have won the series by an innings and 114 runs at Lord’s and the first two Tests by 241 runs at Trent Bridge.
