Nkrumah Bonner reaches a well-earnt his second 100 in Test cricket. he guided West Indies past England’s first-innings total by tea on the third day in Antigua.
Bonner played the most patient of knocks, more than facing 290 deliveries over seven hours at the crease for his unbeaten 111 at the While writing this piece.
He was well supported by Kemar Roach, who was not out 15 off 77 balls after coming to the middle when England managed to snare two wickets in as many overs after the lunch break.
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🗣️ @markbutcher72: “And that has been a most brilliant Century for the West Indies’ No.4. He’s loving Test Match Cricket!” 🙌
🗣️ @qmanbad: “Absolute brilliant from Nkrumah Bonner.” 👏
Hear how Nkrumah Bonner brought up his second Test Match century live on @talkSPORT2 🏏 pic.twitter.com/XdoWyWjaTM
— talkSPORT Cricket (@Cricket_TS) March 10, 2022
Looking to play across the line off the back foot, Da Silva was trapped LBW by Jack Leach early in the second session, with a review failing to come to his aid.
Alzarri Joseph fell to Craig Overton’s short-ball ploy, caught at fine leg as West Indies were seven down with their hopes riding on Bonner to get them close to England’s total.
But in worrying signs for the tourists, Mark Wood missed the entire afternoon session and was ruled out of bowling for the remainder of the innings, with team management confirming that he was receiving treatment to his elbow.
Bonner had resumed on 34 not out, having guided the hosts back on to a level footing in partnership with Jason Holder after they were reduced to 127 for 4 on a grinding second day.
The third began in similarly sedate style with West Indies 109 adrift. But Ben Stokes struck in the fourth full over of the day to remove an indecisive Holder, who added just two runs to his overnight 43 before making a late move to leave one around off stump and feathering a catch to Ben Foakes behind the stumps, ending his union with Bonner at 79.
Stokes nearly had another when Bonner, on 40 at the time, attempted to pull a bouncer and the ball looped up towards midwicket, where substitute fielder Ollie Pope dived forward but couldn’t manage to grasp it.
England took the second new ball with West Indies 227 for 5, having added 25 runs to their overnight score in the first hour.
Bonner brought up his fifty prodding a single through the covers. Having reached the milestone in 147 balls, Bonner faced another 15 for his next scoring shot, launching Wood over the fence at fine leg for six off a top edge.
Wood left the field after his solitary over with the new ball (he had bowled four with the old one earlier in the morning session, conceding back-to-back fours to Bonner), showing some discomfort with his right elbow and did not return.
Joshua da Silva made a smart decision to review when he was adjudged lbw to Craig Overton when on 16 by umpire Joel Wilson, who had to overturn the dismissal when ball-tracking showed it was going down the leg side.
Another fine display of patience and temperament by Nkrumah Bonner. First selected as a T20 batsman back in 2011 vs England. Now 5 times in ten Test matches he has batted for more than 200 deliveries in an innings. Congrats on test century number 2.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) March 10, 2022
There was no such reprieve in the fifth over after lunch when Jack Leach, who had bowled well for no reward, rapped him on the back pad with one that skidded onto the knee role as Da Silva played back and this time he lost his review, with replays showing the ball was hitting leg stump.
Overton bounced out Alzarri Joseph, who pulled straight to deep backward square where Pope, on for Wood, took a comfortable catch.
Bonner twice swept Leach to the boundary and then Roach, who had faced 67 balls for seven runs, got in on the act, punching Joe Root through the covers to take West Indies into the lead and then turning the England captain past leg gully for back-to-back fours.
Bonner moved to his tea-time score with another four and a single off Root, but time got the better of him before he could bring up his second Test ton.
Earlier, Captain Kraigg Brathwaite scored 55 while his left-handed partner John Campbell struck 35, the pair entertaining in an 83-run opening stand before things fell apart quickly in the post-lunch period.
Each team had earlier claimed a session, West Indies clearly taking the first with England hitting back in the second, with a cluster of wickets.
Resuming the morning on 268 for six, England were dismissed for 311 with young seamers Jayden Seales (4-79) and Alzarri Joseph (2-70) sharing the four wickets to fall.
While writing this piece, West indies are at 347/8 in 137.1 overs, Nkrumah Bonner is batting on 112* off 295 balls while Veerasammy Permaul is at 11* off 33 balls.