Wed, Jul 15, 2026
Wed, Jul 15, 2026
TEST: Holder and Dowrich’s marathon leaves England panting
England failed to pick up a wicket on day three as Jason Holder and Shane Dowrich powered West Indies to a position of supreme dominance in the first Test in Barbados.
Starting the day on 127-6, West Indies declared on 415-6, leaving England with a huge target of 627 to get in just over two days at Kensington Oval.
England, drained from chasing leather in the Bridgetown heat, ended the day promisingly on 56-0, 572 adrift of the target. Rory Burns has looked solid on 39 and Keaton Jennings is on 11.
Holder struck a brilliant 202 not out, the highest score by a West Indian number eight batsman and only the third double century from that position. Dowrich ended on 116 not out, his third Test century, as they added 295 unbroken for the seventh wicket.
Holder’s knock spanned 229 balls and included 23 fours and eight sixes; Dowrich was more circumspect, facing 224 balls and hitting 11 fours and a six.
Moeen Ali picked up 3-78 and Ben Stokes 2-81, as the Englishmen toiled all day.
The flow of runs and lack of wickets was in stark contrast to day two, which saw 18 wickets tumbling and England being bowled out for 77 in response to West Indies first innings 289.