Nkrumah Bonner moves to brink of century as West Indies take first-innings lead

Bonner 98* at tea as England face rest of innings without injured Wood

Tea West Indies 322 for 7 (Bonner 98*, Roach 15*) lead England 311 by 11 runs

Bonner played the most patient of knocks, facing 255 deliveries over seven hours at the crease for his unbeaten 98. He was well supported by Kemar Roach, who was not out 15 off 77 balls after coming to the middle when England managed to snare two wickets after the lunch break.

Bonner had resumed on 34 not out, having guided the hosts back on to a level footing in partnership with Jason Holder after being reduced to 127 for 4 from the 83 without loss on a grinding second day.

The third began in similarly sedate style with West Indies 109 adrift. But Ben Stokes struck in the fourth full over of the day to remove an indecisive Holder, who added just two runs to his overnight 43 before making a late move to leave one around off stump and feathering a catch to Ben Foakes behind the stumps, ending his union with Bonner at 79.

Stokes nearly had another when Bonner, on 40 at the time, attempted to pull a bouncer and the ball looped up towards midwicket, where substitute fielder Ollie Pope dived forward but couldn’t manage to grasp it.

England took the second new ball with West Indies 227 for 5, having added 25 runs to their overnight score in the first hour.

Bonner brought up his fifty prodding a single through the covers. Having reached the milestone in 147 balls, Bonner faced another 15 for his next scoring shot, launching Wood over the fence at fine leg for six off a top edge.

Wood left the field after his solitary over with the new ball (he had bowled four with the old one earlier in the morning session, conceding back-to-back fours to Bonner), showing some discomfort with his right elbow and did not return.

Joshua da Silva made a smart decision to review when he was adjudged lbw to Craig Overton when on 16 by umpire Joel Wilson, who had to overturn the dismissal when ball-tracking showed it was going down the leg side.

There was no such reprieve in the fifth over after lunch when Jack Leach, who had bowled well for no reward, rapped him on the back pad with one that skidded onto the knee role as Da Silva stepped back and this time he lost his review, with replays showing the ball was hitting leg stump.

Overton then had Alzarri Joseph out, pulling a short ball to deep backward square where Pope, on for Wood, took a comfortable catch.

Bonner twice swept Leach to the boundary and then Roach, who had faced 67 balls for seven runs, got in on the act, punching Joe Root through the covers to take West Indies into the lead and then turning the England captain past leg gully for back-to-back fours. Bonner moved to his tea-time score with another four and a single off Root, but time got the better of him before he could bring up his second Test ton.