Chase strikes on stroke of lunch to steal England thunder

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Jan 26, CMC – Off-spinner Roston Chase bowled opener Rory Burns on the stroke of lunch, as West Indies maintained the upper hand on the penultimate day of the opening Test against England here Saturday.

Left-hander Burns seemed to be taking the visitors safely to lunch with just one wicket down when Chase breached his bat and pad defensive stroke, to bowl him for 84 with the fifth ball of the final over before the interval.

At the break, England were 134 for two, with Jonny Bairstow comfortably unbeaten on 29 off 47 deliveries with six fours.

England trail by 494 runs, in pursuit of an improbable 628 for victory.

Resuming the day on 56 without loss, England kept West Indies without any success until fast bowler Alzarri Joseph got Keaton Jennings to drive at a full length delivery and edge a catch high to Jason Holder’s right at second slip, three quarters of an hour into the session.

Jennings made 14 from 84 balls and put on 85 for the first wicket with Burns.

For his part, Burns looked untroubled, and added another 49 for the second wicket with Bairstow in an innings lasting 133 balls in 205 minutes with 15 fours.

But he perished to Chase’s fifth ball of the day, playing down the wrong line.