||Desk Report|| 

A 124-run partnership by Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes in the 5-wicket-stand recovered England and lifted the visitors to 231 for four at stumps on the first day of the third and final Test against the West Indies on Saturday in St Lucia. Buttler hit unbeaten 67 while Stokes 62 not out that helped England fight back.  

Earlier, after winning the toss, the stand-in captain Kraigg Brathwaite decided to bowl first.  The decision proved right for the hosts when they got the first breakthrough. Keemo Paul, who has been added into the eleven as the replacement for regular skipper Jason Holder, ended Keaton Jennings for 8 runs.

Jennings was dropped from England eleven after failing in the first Test in Barbados and replaced by Denly to make his Test debut in Antigua.

However, Paul stroke again and removed another opener, Rory Burns, leg-before for 29 early into the afternoon session. Joe Denly again proved to fail himself and scored only 20 before his lbw by Shannon Gabriel.

England captain Joe Root failed too. He was on 15 when Alzarri Joseph removed him. The visitors were in trouble with 107 for four but Buttler and Stokes took the charge and kept them at bay with an unbeaten 124-run partnership before the stumps.

Buttler finished on 67 off 123 deliveries included nine boundaries, while Stokes remained undefeated on 62 off 130 balls included six boundaries. At the end of the day, England were 231/4 (83 overs).

Among the Caribbeans, Keemo Paul claimed two wickets while  Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph clinched one wicket each.

Brief Score

England: 231/4 (83 overs)