The China Mail - West Indies' Athanaze and Hodge frustrate England in second Test

West Indies were 212-3 in reply to England's first-innings 416 at tea on the second day.

Left-hander Athanaze was 65 not out -- his maiden Test fifty -- and Hodge had reached 58 after being dropped on 16, with the Windward Islands pair sharing an unbroken stand of 128 for the fourth wicket.

It also meant the West Indies had batted through a session without losing a wicket after Athanaze and Hodge came together shortly before lunch with the tourists in trouble at 84-3.

But Athanaze, 25, showed his class early in the second session when he punched paceman Chris Woakes off the back foot for a well-struck four.

Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir had rocked the West Indies with two wickets before lunch, but Athanaze drove the 20-year-old for two fours off successive balls and later hoisted him high over the legside for six.

A good pitch and sunny blue skies overhead allied to a fast outfield meant conditions were ideal for batting, with Hodge square-driving Woakes for an elegant four.

It was a heartening sight for the West Indies following an innings and 114-run defeat in the first Test at Lord's where they were dismissed for just 121 and 136.

But just as England had benefitted from several dropped catches on Thursday, with Ollie Pope missed twice on his way to 121, so too was Hodge given a reprieve.

He edged a 93.6 mph (150.6 kph) delivery from Mark Wood to first slip, only for Joe Root to floor a regulation two-handed chance.

- Bashir breakthrough -

Athanaze has just surpassed his previous highest Test score of 47 when he was struck flush on the helmet by a rapid Wood bouncer.

But it was not long before Athanaze completed a 67-ball fifty, including nine fours, with a controlled pull for two off Gus Atkinson.

Hodge then went to the landmark in 85 balls with his eighth four, a back-foot forcing shot behind point off Atkinson.

England captain Ben Stokes didn't bring himself into the attack until the 50th over but the all-rounder couldn't make a breakthrough.

This is England's first Test since veteran spearhead James Anderson's retirement from international duty with 704 Test wickets -- the most by any fast bowler - after the hosts went 1-0 up in a three-match series at Lord's.

And it is also England's first home Test since 2012 without either Anderson or his longtime new-ball partner Stuart Broad, who bowed out after last year's Ashes.

Woakes took the new ball for England on Friday alongside Atkinson, fresh from a stunning 12-wicket haul on his Test debut at Lord's.

The West Indies were well-placed at 48-0 off 14 overs, but Stokes's decision to bring on Bashir rather than himself was quickly rewarded.

Miklye Louis, on 21, skyed a slog-sweep with Harry Brook holding a fine running catch to leave the West Indies 53-1.

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite had mainly looked assured while making 48.

But the experienced opener, bidding for just his second fifty in nine Tests, was undone when he fended a rising Atkinson delivery straight to Pope at short leg.

The 20-year-old Bashir was gifted a second wicket when Kirk McKenzie's ugly swipe across the line gave Stokes a simple catch at mid-on.

S.Wilson--ThChM