In the first Test of the 3-match series against West Indies, Preity Zinta’s opener saved England’s shame. England won the toss and elected to bat on the first day of this match being played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. However, his decision did not prove to be correct when he lost 4 wickets (Alex Lees, Jack Crowley, Joe Root and Daniel Lawrence) for just 48 runs in 15.4 overs.
After this Jonny Bairstow came to the crease. He shared a 67-run partnership with Ben Stokes for the fifth wicket and took the score past 100. Ben Stokes also left him on the last ball of the 40th over. Stokes was dismissed after scoring 36 runs. Wicketkeeper Ben Fox came to the crease in place of Stokes. He shared a 99-run partnership with Bairstow for the sixth wicket.
Ben Fox got out after scoring 42 runs. Chris Woakes came to the crease instead of Fox. Bairstow shared an unbeaten 54-run partnership with him till the end of the first day’s play. At the end of the first day’s play, England’s score was 268 for 6 in 86 overs. Jonny Bairstow was unbeaten on 109 and Chris Woakes on 24. This is the first time in Test cricket, when Ben Stokes, Ben Fox and Chris Woakes played together for England.
Let us inform that in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Mega Auction 2022, Punjab Kings, co-owned by Preity Zinta, won the title as a wicket-keeper batsman. Jonny Bairstow 6,75,00,000 for Rs. Bairstow was a part of Kavya Maran-owned Sunrisers Hyderabad from IPL 2019 to 2021.
Fast bowler Jason Holder took two wickets for 15 runs in 16 overs for West Indies. He bowled nine maiden overs in his spell. Jaden Seals took the wickets of Stokes and Crowley, while Kemar Roach sent Joe Root and Alex Lees to the pavilion.
Joe Root They won the toss and elected to bat on a batsman friendly pitch, but their batsmen could not face the West Indies fast bowlers. Openers Alex Lees and Jack Crowley were dismissed within four overs. The score was 27 at the time of Root’s dismissal.