By Matthew Henry — BBC Sport
Jack Leach and Saqib Mahmood were England’s unlikely saviours after the tourists’ top order collapsed on day one of the decisive third Test against West Indies at St George’s, Grenada. Having been asked to bat first on a lively pitch, England crumbled to 114-9 before Leach and Mahmood shared a crucial last-wicket partnership of 90. Mahmood was bowled in the final over of the day for 49 — his highest score in professional cricket — but not before he and Leach had dragged England to 204. Not since 1885 have numbers 10 and 11 top scored in a men’s Test.
Captain Joe Root was caught behind for a duck in the morning session. Three wickets fell for no runs in an abject spell after lunch, with England unable to deal with the movement found by West Indies’ pace attack. Jayden Seales took 3-40 and Kyle Mayers 2-13, with Mayers taking two wickets for no runs in his first five-over spell. As the ball softened and the pitch flattened out, however, Leach — who finished 41 not out — stoutly stopped the procession of wickets before he and Mahmood added valuable runs, including one fine Mahmood six. Their stand ensured England’s bid to earn a first series win in the Caribbean since 2004 was not all but over on the opening day. The series result — two drawn Tests — sets up a winner-takes-all decisive final Test in Grenada.