Crawley helps England erase lead

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Zak Crawley (45*) played some attractive shots, as the opener helped England erase West Indies’ healthy first innings lead in the morning session of Day 4 of the Antigua Test. The visitors had progressed to 72/1, in front by eight at Lunch.

After left-arm spinner Jack Leach had ended the West Indies’ innings by prising Jayden Seales out LBW, the home side would have hoped to make early incisions. Incidentally, the West Indies thought they had started on a good note, when Crawley played around his front pad and was adjudged LBW off Kemar Roach in the opening over of the second innings. However, he took the review and the ball-tracker suggested it would miss the leg-stump and the initial decision was reversed.

Crawley then connected a couple of flicks off Seales and Roach to keep the scorecard ticking over. His batting partner, Alex Lees, couldn’t survive for long as he was trapped in front by Roach. Just like Crawley, he took the DRS but to no avail. In the same over, the hosts placed their belief in the review for an LBW decision against Crawley but the impact was outside off. As the session progressed, Crawley grew in confidence as he essayed a couple of pull shots.