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Alastair Cook's 4th Test double ton puts England in driver's seat in Edgbaston day-night Test

England Opener Alastair Cook Scored His Fourth Test Double Century To Put His Side In A Commanding Position Against The West Indies Before Seasoned Seamer James Anderson Struck Early To In The Inaugural Day/night Test In Britain At Edgbaston.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Gautam Lalotra | Updated on: 19 Aug 2017, 10:37:58 AM

New Delhi:

England opener Alastair Cook scored his fourth Test double century to put his side in a commanding position against the West Indies before seasoned seamer James Anderson struck early to in the inaugural day/night Test in Britain at Edgbaston.

West Indies were 44 for one in reply to England's imposing 514 for eight declared, a deficit of 470 runs, when rain ended the second day's play early in the third session.

Cook's 243, his fourth Test double century, was the cornerstone of England's total and the former captain's dismissal prompted current skipper Joe Root to declare. That left the West Indies with a tricky nine overs to bat in twilight before the tea interval.

That was time enough for opener Kraigg Brathwaite to be caught behind for a duck off Anderson. Kieran Powell had made just two when the normally reliable Ben Stokes dropped him in the gully off Stuart Broad.

But come the close, Powell was 18 not out while Kyle Hope, in at nought for one, had made a heartening 25 not out for the tourists. But by that stage both Cook and Anderson, England's leading Test run-scorer and wicket-taker respectively, had struck telling blows.

England resumed in an immensely strong position of 348 for three in the first of this three-match series and the 50th Test at Edgbaston. Cook was 153 not out, an innings that had already seen him extend his record tally of England Test centuries to 31. Significantly it was also Cook's first Test hundred in 17
innings and the 32-year-old left-handed opener's tenth score of 150 or more at this level.

Together with Root, who made 136 after winning the toss, he'd put on 248 for the third wicket.

There was a sombre start to Friday's proceedings with players, officials and spectators observing a minute's silence in memory of the victims of Thursday's terror attacks in Spain.

On the field, Cook again looked to be having a 'net' gainst an outclassed attack. Malan, who in marked contrast to Cook is appearing in just his third Test, provided steady support during a century stand that took the total beyond 400. His pull off Miguel Cummins, one of the four-seamers in the attack, saw Malan complete a 112 ball-fifty.

Cook then went to his 200 when a misfield by Kyle Hope on the third man rope -- an error symptomatic of a generally sloppy team display in the field -- allowed the ball to trickle through for the opener's 30th four in 339 balls.

But West Indies did have a success on the stroke of lunch when off-spinner Roston Chase had left-hander Malan caught at slip by Jermaine Blackwood to end a partnership of 162.

Cook was 213 not out at lunch. But his chances of surpassing his highest Test score of 294, made against India at Edgbaston six years ago, were effectively undone with a rush of wickets at the other end.

Stokes reverse-swept Chase to slip before Jonny Bairstow played on to West Indies captain Jason Holder. Moeen Ali, England's man of the series in their recent 3-1 win over South Africa then carelessly holed out off Chase for a duck.
       

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First Published : 19 Aug 2017, 10:37:58 AM

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