England eked out a lead of 170 runs heading into the final day of the opening Test against the West Indies, with all outcomes still possible in the first match since the resumption of international cricket.
The Windies pace attack took five wickets in the final session of day IV to reduce England to 284 for the loss of eight wickets at stumps at an empty Rose Bowl on Saturday, making the visitors marginal favourites with the pitch slow but yet to misbehave.
That said, awkward bounce witnessed particularly on the penultimate day indeed sets up an intriguing final day on the cards.
Zak Crawley (76) and Dom Sibley (50) were the two England batsmen to get half-centuries, while stand-in captain Ben Stokes chipped in with 46 before the late Windies fightback.
“It should be tight if we bowl well,” Crawley said. “Especially if we get a lead of 200.”
That will be on the shoulders of unbeaten batsmen Jofra Archer (5) and Mark Wood (1), with James Anderson to come in at No. 11.