Insights

England is in a strong position to complete a series sweep against the West Indies, finishing day two of the third Test with a 61-run lead. The tourists struggled in their second innings, ending the day at 33-2, chasing England's total of 376 in response to the West Indies' first-innings score of 282. Jamie Smith was the standout performer for England, scoring 95 runs, just five short of his maiden Test century, while Joe Root contributed 87 and captain Ben Stokes added 54. The English batting lineup showcased resilience, with Root surpassing 12,000 Test runs and moving ahead of West Indies legend Brian Lara in the all-time run-scorers list. The partnership between Root and Stokes was pivotal, as they built a century stand before Smith's aggressive innings and Chris Woakes' late flourish of 62 runs solidified England's lead. England's bowling attack further asserted dominance in the final hour, with Woakes dismissing West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck and Gus Atkinson claiming the wicket of Kirk McKenzie, who has struggled throughout the series. In a post-match interview, Smith expressed disappointment at missing out on a century but remained proud of his performance. The day also featured a tribute to the late Bob Willis, with Edgbaston turning "Blue for Bob" in support of the Bob Willis Fund, established in his memory after his passing from prostate cancer in 2019. The third day's play will resume on Sunday morning.