||Desk Report||

Joe Root smashed his sixteen tons as England took control after the day three of Third Test by 448 runs against West Indies in St Lucia on Monday. The visitors scored 325 for four. Root was 111 not out while Ben stokes was unbeaten on 29. 

On the early morning, England got the first blow when Rory Burns was dismissed for 10. But then, Joe Denly then began his innings with a boundary. Denly along with Jennings made a 54-run stand in second wicket partnership before Jennings’ departure for 23.

But Denly was unstoppable and smashed a half-ton while Root continued to remain sedate post the dismissal, Buttler got going immediately racing to 11 off just 10 balls. The duo looked at ease against the off-spin of Roston Chase and took full toll of a tiresome looking bowling attack to put on a century stand.

Denly removed by Gabriel for 69 off 99 balls.  Root, who had endured a poor series with the bat, making just 55 runs in his five previous innings, made amends by notching up his 16th test century with a classic drive through mid-off for four, albeit off a generous full toss from Alzarri Joseph.

Meanwhile, it was just the third century he had made in almost 18 months and the first form the visitors in this series. On the day, Roach, Paul, Gabriel and Joseph took one wicket each.

Earlier, on the day two in St Lucia, Mark Wood put England in command for the first time this series since May 2018. A maiden five-wicket haul of Wood helped the visitors to stretch their lead to 142 with all ten wickets remaining. West Indies were dismissed for 154. Wood took 5 for 41 while Moeen Ali claimed 4 for 36.

Brief Score

1st Innings

England: 277

Stokes 79, Buttler 67; Roach 4-48

West Indies: 154