Wickets continue to tumble as WI chase modest target

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Wickets continued to tumble at Kensington Oval as England were dismissed for 123 in their second innings just before lunch on the third day of the third and final Test in Barbados on Sunday.
Needing 192 for victory to square the series, the home side go into the afternoon session at four without loss after one over bowled by James Anderson.
As in the first innings, it was Anderson’s dismissal that brought an end to the tourists’ second turn at the crease as they collapsed following a bright start to the day when 51 runs were added for the loss of just one wicket.
Gary Ballance was that early casualty after England resumed in the perilous overnight position of 39 for five.
His was the first of two wickets for Veerasammy Permaul, the left-arm spinner removing the left-hander to a catch at slip and then breaking a 33-run seventh-wicket partnership between Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler via a miscued drive from Stokes (32) that was well held by Shivnarine Chanderpaul at short extra-cover.
Buttler kept on playing positively — striking fast bowler Shannon Gabriel for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries — and was left unbeaten on a top score of 35 with the lower-order failing to survive on a pitch that continues to play at varying heights.
Chris Jordan was trapped lbw by Jason Holder, who promptly yorked Stuart Broad first ball to finish with the best bowling figures of three for 15.
Permaul also picked up three wickets, as did Taylor, who was summoned by his captain, Denesh Ramdin, to finish off the innings and did so with his first delivery, trapping Anderson in front to end a last-wicket partnership that had added 25 invaluable runs to the England lead.
While history is on the side of the West Indies — no visiting team has successfully defended a target of fewer than 200 in Test cricket in the Caribbean — England will be considered favourites at this stage on a bowler-friendly pitch and with Anderson in prime form against a vulnerable batting line-up.
England lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the second Test in Grenada by nine wickets while the opening game in Antigua was drawn.
Score Board
England won toss
England 1st innings 257 all-out
West Indies 1st innings 189 all-out
England 2nd innings
*A N Cook c Brathwaite b Gabriel 4
I J L Trott lbw b Taylor 9
G S Ballance c Bravo b Permaul 23
I R Bell lbw b Taylor 0
J E Root c Bravo b Holder 1
M M Ali b Permaul 8
B A Stokes c Chanderpaul b Permaul 32
†J C Buttler not out 35
C J Jordan lbw b Holder 2
S C J Broad b Holder 0
J M Anderson lbw b Taylor 2
Extras (b 4, lb 2, nb 1) 7
Total (all out; 42.1 overs) 123
Fall: 1-11, 2-13, 3-18, 4-28, 5-39, 6-62, 7-95, 8-98, 9-98, 10-123
Bowling: Taylor 11.1-1-33-3; Gabriel 7-4-16-1(1nb); Holder 9-3-15-3; Permaul 11-3-43-3; Samuels 4-1-10-0
West Indies 2nd innings
K C Brathwaite not out 4
S D Hope not out 0
Extras 0
Total (0 wickets; 1 overs) 4
To bat: D M Bravo, M N Samuels, S Chanderpaul, J Blackwood, *†D Ramdin, J O Holder, J E Taylor, S T Gabriel, V Permaul
Bowling: Anderson 1-0-4-0
Test debut: S D Hope (West Indies)
Umpires: B F Bowden (New Zealand) and BNJ Oxenford (Australia). TV umpire: S J Davis (Australia). Match referee: A J Pycroft (Zimbabwe)