England vs West Indies 2nd Test Day 2 Highlights: Hundred Hero Kavem Hodge Stars For West Indies As England Toil Without James Anderson

 

 England vs West Indies 2nd Test Day 2 Highlights: Hundred Hero Kavem Hodge Stars as England Toil Without James Anderson

In a thrilling second day of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, Kavem Hodge emerged as the hero for the visitors. His maiden Test century put the West Indies in a commanding position against an England side grappling with the absence of their veteran bowler, James Anderson.

West Indies ended the day at 351-5, trailing England's first-innings total of 416 by just 65 runs. Hodge, who was given a life on 16, went on to score a brilliant 120. This was only his seventh innings at the Test level, making his achievement even more remarkable. His innings was characterized by patience, skill, and determination.

Hodge's standout performance included a significant 175-run partnership with Alick Athanaze, who himself was on the brink of his first Test century before being dismissed for 82. The duo batted through the entire second session, showcasing the resilience that many believed the West Indies lacked.

The absence of James Anderson was keenly felt by England. The veteran bowler's retirement left a significant void in the bowling attack, and the English bowlers struggled to make inroads on a pitch that offered little assistance.

Here's a detailed look at the second day's play from Trent Bridge:

 Key Highlights:

- Kavem Hodge's Century**: Dropped on 16, Hodge capitalized on his reprieve and went on to score a magnificent 120. His innings was crucial in anchoring the West Indies' response to England's first-innings total.

  

- Alick Athanaze's Near-Century : Athanaze provided excellent support to Hodge, scoring 82 runs. His dismissal just short of a century was a disappointment, but his partnership with Hodge was instrumental in the West Indies' strong position.

  

- England's Bowling Struggles**: Without James Anderson, England's bowlers found it tough to break through the West Indies' batting lineup. The pitch offered little help, and the West Indies batsmen took full advantage.

- Late Resilience by West Indies**: The West Indies' batsmen showed great resilience, especially in the second session, where they did not lose a single wicket. This session was crucial in shifting the momentum towards the visitors.

As the game heads into the third day, the West Indies will look to extend their innings and build a significant lead. England, on the other hand, will need to find ways to take quick wickets and get back into the match. The absence of James Anderson continues to loom large over the English bowling attack, and they will need to adapt quickly to counter the West Indies' batting prowess.

Stay tuned for more updates as the match progresses.

    Detailed Play-By-Play Commentary: England vs West Indies, 2nd Test, Day 2

        Over 105:

 Gus Atkinson to Shamar Joseph

Atkinson charges in from over the wicket, delivering a ball on a good length at 136 kph, on off-stump. Shamar Joseph expertly covers the line and pats it with a straight bat to mid-off. No  Mark Wood to Joshua Da Silva

- 105.6: Wood bowls a back-of-a-length delivery around off. Da Silva gets on his toes and guides it towards backward point but can't find the gap. Shamar Joseph will face the next over.

- 105.5: In the off-stump channel, on a back-of-a-length. Da Silva stays back and glides it down to deep backward point but refuses the single.

- 105.4: Full with a hint of inward tail on off. Da Silva can't transfer his weight properly and mistimes the drive to mid-on.

-105.3: A fuller delivery slanting back in around off. Da Silva presents a straight bat and defends down the pitch.

- 105.2: Wood sends in a quick bouncer at the batter. Da Silva hooks it along the ground to fine leg, no run taken.

-105.1: Fired in at 145 kph, full on middle. Da Silva blocks solidly with a straight bat.

Over 104:

Gus Atkinson to Shamar Joseph and Joshua Da Silva

-104.6: Full and just outside off. Joseph attempts a straight lofted drive but is beaten on the outside edge.

-104.5:Full and on the pads. Da Silva flicks it to deep square leg for a single.

-104.4:Fuller delivery on off. Da Silva opens the bat face and steers it to deep point but doesn't run.

-104.3: Good length delivery outside off. Da Silva punches it to deep point but again declines the single.

104.2:Hard length delivery on middle and leg. Joseph tucks it wide of short leg for a single.

104.1: Short ball over middle and leg. Joseph swivels and hooks it wide of deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Gus Atkinson is back into the attack.

Over 103:

 Mark Wood to Joshua Da Silva

-103.6:Wood ends the over with a good bouncer on middle and leg. Da Silva sways out of the line.

103.5: SIX! A banged-in short ball over middle. Da Silva backs away and slaps it aerially behind square on the off-side. It sails over the keeper and clears the deep third fence.

103.4: Wood goes wide of the crease, on a good length around off. Da Silva dabs it to point. The field comes up for the last two balls.

103.3:Short of a length, on off and middle. Da Silva stays on the back foot and defends safely to the off-side.

103.2: Hard length delivery over middle. Da Silva hops to ride the bounce and defends it out on the off-side.

103.1:Back-of-a-length delivery on off, nipping in slightly. Da Silva reads it well, stays back in his crease, and defends under his eyeline.

 Over 102:

 Chris Woakes to Shamar Joseph

-102.6: Woakes drags the length back, in the channel on off. Joseph tries to play it away from his body, stabs it down on the off-side, and gets an inside edge back onto his pads.

This sequence highlights the disciplined bowling by England and the solid defensive techniques displayed by the West Indies batsmen. Each delivery showcases the strategies and skills employed in a competitive Test match setting.

 England vs West Indies, 2nd Test, Day 2 Highlights

 Over 102:

Chris Woakes to Shamar Joseph

102.5: FOUR! Beautifully executed! Woakes delivers a full ball with an upright seam, outside off. Shamar Joseph reads it early, extends his hands, and lofts it cleanly over mid-off for a boundary. The deficit is now down to 18 runs.

  

102.4:Back of a length, angling in on middle. Joseph gets behind the line and fends it down on the off side. No run.

102.3:Short of a length on off. Joseph looks to punch through the off side but mistimes it to point. No run.

102.2:Short and wide outside off. Joseph frees his arms and cracks a cut towards backward point where Gus Atkinson dives to his left, preventing a boundary. No run.

102.1:Full delivery shaping in on the pads. Joseph misses the flick, and the ball hits his pads. No run.

The tension is mounting for Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Batting with a break looming is never preferred, and England might have to face a few overs before the interval. If a team is bowled out with less than 15-20 minutes remaining before the break, the break is taken immediately, a rule implemented in the first Test at Lord's. England hopes for the same.*

 Over 101:

Mark Wood to Joshua Da Silva

101.6:SIX! What a way to bring up fifty! Wood serves it fuller on off. Da Silva backs away and lofts it over deep cover for a six. West Indies move to 394, trailing by 22 runs.

101.5:Short ball at the batter. Da Silva pulls it along the ground to deep square leg but does not take the single.

101.4:Short of a length on off. Da Silva gets on his toes and pats it down on the off side. No run.

101.3:Wood, from wide of the crease, delivers on a length outside off. Da Silva pats it into the cover region and initially sets off for a run but decides against it as Ben Stokes charges in from the boundary.

-101.2: Good length delivery attacking the stumps. Da Silva goes deep in his crease and tucks it along the ground to long on. No single taken.

101.1:Hard length delivery at the stumps. Da Silva hops back and gets on top of the bounce to keep it out. No Over 100:

Chris Woakes to Shamar Joseph and Joshua Da Silva

100.6:Full delivery angling across the left-hander. Joseph drives it well but finds the man at mid-off. No run.

100.5:Woakes pitches it up outside off. Joseph gives himself room to slash through the off side but misses as the ball seams back in past the inside edge. No run.

-100.4:Da Silva takes a single. Woakes goes full on middle, and Da Silva works it off the inner half to deep mid-wicket, crossing over.

100.3:Back of a length around off. Da Silva stands tall and dabs it on the off side. No run.

100.2: Back of a length over middle. Da Silva clears his front leg and swats it to deep mid-wicket, refusing the single.

100.1: Hard length delivery as Woakes follows the batter making room. Da Silva stabs it down on the leg side. No run.

Mark Wood continues to challenge the batsmen with his pace and bounce, while Chris Woakes maintains the pressure with his consistent line and length.*