Duckett and Brook push England to big lead against West Indies in 2nd test

NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — Ben Duckett and Harry Brook helped to turn a frustrating third morning at Trent Bridge into a 207-run lead for England against the West Indies in the second test on Saturday.

In last week's series opener at Lord’s, England had won by lunch on day three, marking an innings victory in James Anderson's farewell outing, but it was made to work considerably harder in Nottingham.

A last-wicket stand of 71 between Joshua Da Silva and Shamar Joseph handed the tourists a 41-run lead, frustrating England as it failed to kill off a first innings that sprawled to 457.

England was still 34 behind when Zak Crawley was unluckily run out by a fingertip touch at the non-striker's end. But an enterprising knock of 76 from Duckett set England on the way to a stumps score of 248-3.

Brook took over in the evening session, showcasing some wonderfully instinctive strokeplay as he racked up an unbeaten 71 and bossed a 108-run partnership with Joe Root, 37 not out.

Duckett, whose very participation had been in doubt due to the imminent arrival of his first child, hit 71 in 59 balls in the first session of the test and followed up with another impactful effort at the head of the second innings.

While he would dearly have loved to go on to a fourth test century, the importance of the left-hander's energy and ambition cannot be overlooked. At a time when England could have made a meal of clearing an awkward deficit, he refused to let the West Indies attack settle and had the controlling interest in a second century stand of the match with Ollie Pope.

Pope, fresh from his sixth test hundred on Thursday, fired the starting pistol by sending five of his first 11 balls to the boundary, but it was Duckett who kept the bowlers on the back foot consistently.

He leaned into his drives, and manipulated the gaps either side of backward point. Although not quite able to keep pace with his 32-ball half-century from day one, Duckett brought up his second fifty of the week with three fours in an over from off-spinner Kevin Sinclair.

After sharing a stand of 119, both batters fell in quick succession, undone as a change of ball and a change of overhead conditions converged. Alzarri Joseph used both to his advantage; Pope feeding an away swinger to gully and Duckett lbw after a hooping yorker smashed him on the boot.

Brook took his chance to shine, uppercutting over the slips, threading the gaps behind square at will and taking a step down the ground to hammer Jason Holder.

Root was more sober but no less effective, peaking with a pair of immaculate cover drives.

England's day started well with the ball before the stubborn partnership between Da Silva, 82 not out, and Shamar Joseph, 33, held up the host.

Resuming 65 behind on 351-5, West Indies lost four for 35. Rejuvenated after a slow start to the series, Chris Woakes shouldered a 90-minute spell at the Radcliffe Road End and came up trumps, finding just enough nip under murky skies to pick off Holder, Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales.

That is when things started to take a turn for the worse. Ben Stokes kept the allrounder on too long, an apparent attempt to guide his teammate to a five-wicket haul on his 50th appearance, then set some uncharacteristically negative fields in pursuit of the final wicket.

That set up a game of cat and mouse that Da Silva emphatically won, cleverly marshalling the strike to get Shamar Joseph up to speed. What started as an annoyance became something more significant as the West Indies deficit was polished into a useful advantage.

Da Silva, whose only test hundred came against England in Grenada two years ago, launched Mark Wood for sixes over extra-cover and deep third before his tailend partner rubbed salt into the wounds.

Twice he spanked Gus Atkinson into the Fox Stand, the second time sending a flurry of roof tiles onto the spectators underneath the Larwood and Voce tavern.

Wood eventually had No. 11 Shamar Joseph caught at mid-on, belated reward for his sustained barrage of pace over 20 luckless overs.

England's Ollie Pope plays a shot during day three of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

England's Joe Root, right, and England's Harry Brook, left, leave the pitch at end of play during day three of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

England's Harry Brook celebrates half century during day three of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

England's Ben Duckett, left, and England's Ollie Pope run between wickets during day three of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

West Indies Joshua Da Silva plays a shot during day three of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

West Indies players celebrate after England's Zak Crawley, centre left, is run out during day three of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

West Indies Joshua Da Silva, left, and West Indies Shamar Joseph leave the pitch after West Indies first innings during day three of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

West Indies Joshua Da Silva plays a shot during day three of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

England's Gus Atkinson celebrates with England's Mark Wood (33) after dismissing West Indies Kevin Sinclair during day three of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

England's Chris Woakes, left, celebrates after dismissing West Indies Alzarri Joseph during day three of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge cricket ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo was carted off the field with an air cast on his right leg during the second quarter of Thursday night's game against the Denver Broncos.

Teammates knelt around Adebo while team physicians and trainers attended to the fourth-year pro, who was a third-round draft choice out of Stanford.

Adebo waved to applauding fans as the cart took him from the field toward a tunnel leading to the Saints' locker room. Amazon Prime, which was streaming the game, did not show replays of the injury.

“Any time we don’t show you a replay, you know it’s serious,” play-by-play announcer Al Michaels said.

The injury is the latest to a prominent player for the Saints, who earlier in the day placed receiver Rashid Shaheed on injured reserve.

New Orleans also went into the game without starting quarterback Derek Carr (oblique), receiver Chris Olave (concussion), versatile tight end Taysom Hill (ribs), center Erik McCoy, right guard Cesar Ruiz (knee) and linebacker Pete Werner (hamstring).

Adebo leads the Saints with three interceptions and 10 passes defensed this season. He also has made or assisted on 52 tackles, including six in the first half Thursday night.

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New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo (29) is carted off the field after getting injured during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo (29) lies on the field after getting injured during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo (29) is injured while making a tackle during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo (29) is carted off the field after getting injured during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)