For a series decider between England and West Indies four days of rain were predicted. But, rain god showed mercy today there was no interruption in play. In an overcast condition West Indies won the important toss. West Indies were coming from defeat in the last match and they have made only one change by giving a chance to Rakheem Cornwell in place of Alzarii Joseph on the other hand England also made two changes by giving chance to Jimmy Anderson and Jofra Archer. The wicket is good to bat on and it has something for the fast bowlers.
Roach started well and in the first over itself he squared Sibely and trapped him plumb in front of wicket. Sibely failed to judge the line of the ball and played all across it. Just when a little partnership were building between Rory Burns and Joe Root an unfortunate run out of Root happened. Chase made a gallant effort in the field and he quickly collected the ball at backward point and thrown it to the keeper before root made his ground. Root was absolutely distraught after this runout because this was his second runout in two consecutive matches. Stokes and Rory burns made sure that England will go to lunch without loosing any wicket.
And then came a big breakthrough for West Indies when Roach bowled a peach of delivery which came back in and knocked the off stump of Stokes. It was dismissal number 199 for Roach. Rory Burns crossed a fifty run mark in 40th over, but soon after crossing his fifty he tried to cut a delivery which was short and edged it to the big man Cornwell who caught it pretty well at slip. Ollie Pope and Buttler did well to hang on till tea.
After tea, Buttler and Pope took the charge of England innings and built a really solid partnership. Buttler and pope showed all the shots which were present in their armoury and all Windies ballers looked clueless in the last session. Both the batsman scored their respective fifties.
Buttler really attacked Windies bowlers and played some aerial shots to disturb the line and length of West Indies ballers. Both the batters remained not out and play was called off because of bad light in eighty fifth over.
Brief Scores: England 258/4 (Pope 91*, Buttler 56, Burns 57; Roach 2-56) Vs West Indies