Defiant Marlon, 94 not out, keeps West Indies, 188-5, in the hunt

A gloomy start to the day.

Rain delayed the start of the 2nd test between England and the West Indies at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada. And the gloom transferred itself to the West Indies batting as they totalled 188-5.

Sent in to bat in overcast conditions which resembled those in England, West Indies struggled against the swinging ball early, losing vice captain Kraigg Brathwaite for 1 to a prodigous inswinger from Jimmy Anderson, described as a boomerang by commentator David Gower, the former England captain. West Indies 1-2.

Next to go was hometown boy Devon Smith, caught behind by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler off the bowling of Chris Jordan for 15 at 2-18. At Lunch the Windies were 2-36.

The home team pushed on to 2-65 when they lost the promising left handed batsman Darren Bravo. He fished outside the off stump and was caught in the slip  by skipper Alastair Cook off Stuart Broad for 35 at 3-65.

Then Shivnarine Chanderpaul, looking every bit his 40-years and 249 days, was caught by Moeen Ali off the bowling of Ben Stokes for 1 at 4-74 as the Windies went into tea at 4-102.

They were to lose only one more wicket before the close, when Jermaine Blackwood was trapped leg before wicket for 26 at 5-129. Blackwood was given out on review, plumb in front, as he was not given out on the initial call.

Marlon Samuels came good on Tuesday, mixing defence with attack as he negotiated the testy conditions to reach 94 not out at the close. Samuels with 3307 test runs in 99 innings, is six shy of his 7th test century. Himself and skipper Denesh Ramdin, 6 not out, have so far added 59 for the 6th wicket. Chris Jordan has taken 2-40 so far, Jimmy Anderson 1-18, Stuart Broad 1-42 and Ben Stokes 1-33.

West Indies 188-5.

The teams are playing for the Wisden Trophy after an exciting draw in the first test in Antigua. The three test series is tied at 0-0. Play starts at  8:30am Jamaica time on Wednesday.