England on the verge of another embarrassing defeat after the West Indies are set to win the Test series

England are on the brink of beginning their much-discussed “red-ball reset” with a series defeat against West Indies after another abysmal batting display.

Joe Root’s side lead by ten runs, finishing the day on 103-8 after Kyle Mayers ripped through the England top order, claiming career-best figures of 5-9.

England’s bowlers got off to a good start on day two after reducing West Indies to 69-3. Ben Stokes made the initial breakthrough, trapping Kraigg Braithwaite (17) LBW before Saqib Mahmood dismissed Shamarh Brooks (13) in similar fashion

Craig Overton picked up the first of his two wickets in the innings by drawing an edge from John Campbell (35). Chris Woakes then swung the game in England’s favour after he picked up three wickets in the space of twenty minutes.

Nkrumah Bonner (4) was caught behind off the bowling of Woakes before Jason Holder (0) was dismissed for a duck in the same over. Jermaine Blackwood (18) was Woakes’ third victim meaning the hosts were stuck on 95/6.

The Three Lions could not follow through on their positive start after Joshua Da Silva’s brilliant batting display gave the hosts all the momentum going into day three.

Da Silva finished on 100 not-out off 257 deliveries, hitting ten boundaries in the process. He managed to put on 50-run partnerships with both Kemar Roach (25) and Jayden Seales (13) along with a 49-run stint with Alzarri Joseph (28).

West Indies finished on 297, 93 runs ahead of England, with all still to play for. Day three would have painfully reminded England fans of their dismal performance in the Ashes as another inexcusable batting performance pushed the tourists towards defeat.

Mayers not only repeated, but bettered his impressive first-innings display by claiming four of England’s top five opening batsmen with his crafty medium pace.

Both Zak Crawley (8) and Root (5) failed to reach double figures for the second time in the match after being caught in the slips by Holder and Campbell respectively.

Dan Lawrence (0) was then bowled in embarrassing fashion by Mayers after his ‘leave’ was poorly judged and the ball crashed into the top of the stumps.

Stokes (4) only lasted 18 balls before he was caught off the bowling of Mayers, who also ran out Ben Foakes (2), with the Surrey wicketkeeper unnecessarily risking his wicket for a second run, leaving Root with his head in his hands.

Alex Lees (31), again, attempted slow the innings down and rebuild but his best efforts could not stop Mayers from bowling Durham man for 31.

Overton (1) was Mayers’ fifth wicket and final dismissal of the day, leaving Woakes and Jack Leach at the crease going into day four. England will need nothing short of a miracle to rescue a draw in the match and the series.

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