Rory Burns missed out a maiden Test hundred as two bowling changes paid off for the West Indies with England reaching the lunch interval at 134 for two having been set the improbable target of 628 on the fourth day of the first Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday.
Thoroughly outplayed by the home side over the previous two days to the extent that they find themselves in what looks a hopeless cause, the tourists showed greater appetite for the contest in the morning session in adding 82 runs to their overnight position of 52 without loss.
However it was the loss of both openers and especially the manner in which they departed which will trouble England as they try to salvage something from the match before the teams turn their attention to the second Test beginning in Antigua next Thursday.
Despite showing the traditional left-hander's vulnerability outside the off-stump, Burns played attractively in getting to 84, the highest score of a young Test career which is just into its fourth match.
His first attempt at an attacking shot in the second over of the day was edged to the third man boundary through the gap between third slip and gully at a catchable height off Kemar Roach.
Still he kept on playing positively, following in the vein from the previous evening, and brought up his second Test half-century off 79 deliveries with ten fours.
- Jennings toils -
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