Jason Holder's unbeaten ton salvages a draw for West Indies

Jason Holder’s unbeaten ton salvages a draw for West Indies: Jason Holder’s maiden Test century helped West Indies to salvage a draw in the first test against England at Antigua. Coming into bat at number 8, Windies’ ODI skipper Holder played our nearly three and a half hours and scored an unbeaten 103 to take his side to safety.

Chasing 438 to win, West Indies lost the wickets of opener Kraigg Brathwaite and Darren
Bravo late on day 4 and resumed the day 5 in s shaky fashion by losing overnight batsmen Devon Smith and Marlon Samuels inside the first hour of play. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Jermaine Blackwood did their best to put things on track for West Indies before Joe Root trapped Chanderpaul plumb in front and Chris Jordon had Blackwood caught behind and reduced the hosts for 189-6 with over 50 overs to play out for a stalemate.

Holder joined skipper Denesh Ramdin at the crease and the duo batted sensibly as they made sure that there was no further hiccups in the innings. Both of them reached their fifties and their partnership crossed 10. It was when James Anderson created history. Anderson had Ramdin caught by skipper Alastair Cook at slips and that wicket puts him at the top of the leading wicket takers for England, surpassing Ian Botham’s 383 wickets. Holder still remained defiant and notched up his hundred. Holder, along with Kemar Roach batted out 19 overs before Alastair Cook shook hands with the West Indians with just few balls to spare.

Earlier put into bat, England were dismissed for 399 in their first innings courtesy a classy century from Ian Bell backed by the fifties of Joe Root and Ben Stokes. In reply, West Indies were bundled out for just 295 in spite of Blackwood’s unbeaten 112 that gave England a lead of 104. In the second innings, it was Gary Balance, who scored a ton and put England on top along with some fine batting display from Joe Root and Jos Buttler as the visitors declared their innings for 333-7.

Jason holder was declared as the Man of the Match.

Brief scores: England 399 (Ian Bell 143, Joe Root 83, Ben Stokes 79, Kemar Roach 4-94) and 333 for 7 dec (Gary Ballance 122, Jos Buttler 59*, Joe Root 59) drew with West Indies 294 (Jermaine Blackwood 112*, James Tredwell 4-47) and 350 for 7 (Jason Holder 103*, Devon Smith 65, Denesh Ramdin 57).