Louis and Hodge Shine as West Indies Fight Back Against England
Mikyle Louis and Kavem Hodge led a spirited fightback for the West Indies on Day 3 of the third Test against England at Edgbaston. Their crucial partnership helped the visitors take a lead of 57 runs by lunch.
What Happened? The West Indies resumed their innings on Day 3 at 18 for 3, with Mikyle Louis and Alick Athanaze at the crease. The duo faced a challenging spell from England’s bowlers, Shoaib Bashir and Mark Wood. Bashir troubled Louis with sharp turn, while Wood tested Athanaze with a bouncer that struck him on the shoulder.
Despite the pressure, Louis managed to reach his maiden Test fifty with a series of attacking shots, including a powerful cover drive and a six off Bashir. However, Athanaze fell to Bashir, trapped in front while attempting a sweep shot.
Kavem Hodge then joined Louis at the crease and started cautiously, edging a few deliveries past the slip cordon. However, he soon found his rhythm, hitting confident drives off Ben Stokes and reaching his fifty off just 56 balls.
Key Moments Louis and Hodge put together a crucial 72-run partnership that helped West Indies take the lead. Louis was eventually dismissed by Stokes, edging a delivery to second slip. Hodge remained unbeaten at lunch, with Joshua Da Silva providing support.
Stokes could have claimed another wicket, but Zak Crawley dropped Jason Holder at second slip. Holder, however, did not last long, as he was trapped leg-before by Gus Atkinson. Da Silva, who took a blow to his arm from Stokes, stayed not out at lunch alongside Hodge.
The Bigger Picture West Indies ended the first session on 151/5, leading by 57 runs. Hodge’s steady hand and Louis’s aggressive play have given the team a fighting chance. However, they still have work to do to set a challenging target for England.
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