The day 2 of the first Test was interrupted by bad light yesterday but the bright day in Southampton on Friday helped the first session witness no delay's or interruptions. The onus was on the Windies batting lineup to left their game in order to support yesterday's top-bowling performance from skipper Holder and speedster Gabriel.
After losing one wicket yesterday, Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope came out in the middle to bat on Day three, looking to capitalise on the solid start for the Windies, trailing England by 147 runs.
James Anderson started his spell with a maiden. The opening duo of Hope and Braithwaite played a mix of defensive and offensive strokes to keep the English bowling attack at bay in the first half-an-hour on Day 3.
Skipper Stokes made the first bowling change of the session by introducing star all-rounder Jofra Archer into the attack. Also, looking to take advantage of drier conditions, Stokes brought in spinner Dominic Bess on the other end to break the building partnership between the two Windies batsmen.
In the 33rd over, Kraigg and Shai stitched up a hard-fought 50 partnership to get 100 up for the Windies. With the ball not moving too much in drier conditions, English bowlers struggled to get an early wicket despite bowling some good length deliveries.
England finally got the big breakthrough after the drinks break in the 35th over after Ben Stokes grabbed a fine catch at the slip to dismiss Shai Hope 16 (64 balls) off-spinner Dom Bess' delivery.
Just a few balls later, Kraigg Brathwaite notched up a well-deserved 18th Test half-century - first 50 of the match for either team - as the Windies moved to 108 for loss of two wickets, trailing by just 96 runs.
Brathwaite smashed Stokes for brilliant three fours in the 42nd over but it was the English skipper who had the last laugh as he departed Brathwaite lbw out (65 runs off 125 balls) to give his team the much-needed wicket of a well-settled batsman.
After losing quick wickets, Sharmarh Brooks made sure that he settles in nicely on the 22 yards. At Lunch, West Indies (159/3) trailed England by just 45 runs on Day 3 of the first Test at Southampton.
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