Bridgetown. After captain Joe Root, all-rounder Ben Stokes also scored a century as England finished their first innings at 507 for nine on the second day of the second Test against West Indies. declared. West Indies scored 71 for one in their first innings till the end of the second day’s play.
Matthew Fisher took the wicket of John Campbell on the second ball of his Test career. Root scored 153 runs ahead of 119 but he played the role of an ally with Stokes. Stokes scored 120 off 128 balls and contributed significantly to the 129-run partnership with Root.
West Indies have also tried their best to adjust to the slow and flat pitch. Captain Craig Brathwaite (28 not out) and Shamar Brooks (31 not out) faced the new ball firmly. England had lost the wicket of Dan Lawrence (91) off the last ball on Wednesday, so Stokes landed at the crease with Root on the second day in the morning. Stokes soon put down the West Indies attack with his crisp shot.
Stokes completed his half-century by hitting the second six on spinner Veerasamy Permal and then hit the third six on the same bowler. In the next over, he hit Alzarri Joseph for three consecutive fours and then six. Stokes completed his 11th Test century off 114 balls. This is his first Test century since 2020. He completed 5000 runs in Test matches during his innings. He has become the fifth all-rounder in the world to take 5000 runs and more than 150 wickets. Before him, Garfield Sobers, Ian Botham, Kapil Dev and Jock Kallis had achieved this feat. Permal took three wickets for West Indies.