Chanders and Bravo rebuild

A day of twists and turns ended with England in the ascendancy of the third NPower Test against the West Indies. The tourists, having elected to bat first, ended day one at 275/6 on a good batting surface.

Before play Sylvester Joseph was granted his first Test cap and Carlton Baugh Jr., Dave Mohammed and Fidel Edwards joined him in making their way into the West Indies team, replacing Devon Smith, Omari Banks and the injured Jermaine Lawson and Ridley Jacobs. On the other side of the contest, England elected to play an unchanged side to no one's surprise.

After a delay due to rain, the festivities kicked off and Gayle opened the batting with Joseph. Gayle received some sharp rising deliveries from Harmison and looked rather uncomfortable until perishing to Hoggard, playing too early and getting a leading edge to Strauss. He made just 5.

Next to the crease was Sarwan, who batted with confidence and looked in good touch, advancing to 40 then loosely dragging a full delivery from Flintoff onto his stumps. The score now at 85/2, Brian Lara joined the action with his captaincy career on the line and needing just 7 runs for 10,000 in his career. He would not advance his aggregate on this day though, yorked legstump by Flintoff for a duck. The delivery caught Lara shuffling across his stumps and then beaten by the perfect yorker from a thinking Flintoff.

Suddenly the innings slumped to 97/3 and Joseph looked under a bit of pressure. On debut the young right-hander had previously looked quite composed, playing especially well off his legs and reaching 45. At that score he departed, hanging his bat outside the offstump and edging Harmison to slip. Harmison was now producing a fine spell of bowling, with more pace, rhythm, bounce and venom than he'd shown at any time previously in the series.

He looked to harness that venom and knock the West Indies back further from their score of 108/4. The next wicket would not come just yet though. Dwayne Bravo entered this Test with questions over his capabilities as a Test number six and he answered his critics with an innings that surely impressed all who looked on.

Together with the ever-solid Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Bravo forged a heartening partnership. The two rotated the strike clinically and regularly and picked up twos at every venture. Bravo was the first to his fifty, facing 69 balls, then Chanderpaul got there from 70 balls. The two batted onward and looked very much like seeing out the day.

Indeed it took a characteristically West Indian loose piece of cricket to let England back in. Having just left a wide full delivery through to the 'keeper, Bravo chased a like ball without the foot movement to accompany and just succeeded in edging it through to Geraint Jones. Unfortunately this mode of dismissal would put a damper on what was otherwise a great display of spirit and ability from young man on the day. His 77-run effort saw 106 balls and included some 10 fours.

To compound matters for the touring side, Chanderpaul fell 1 run later, also caught behind off Hoggard. Chanderpaul made 76 from 115 balls with 6 fours and 1 six. Bravo and Chanderpaul added 158 runs for the fifth wicket, but upon the latter's dismissal, the score read 266/6. In danger of losing more wickets in fading light, the batsmen gladly accepted the offer of bad light and play was ended a ball short of the 71st over.

Resuming tomorrow will be Carlton Baugh (9 not out), who took up an attacking method with Harmison late on day one, and Dave Mohammed (0 not out). They will have to face off with Matthew Hoggard, who's already claimed 3/61; a fierce Steve Harmison (1/52) and the inspiration that is Andrew Flintoff (2/46).

Bowling hero of the series to date, Ashley Giles ended the day with unflattering figures of 13-0-55-0.

[U]Match Summary:[/U]

[B]West Indies 1st innings[/B] 275/6 (70.5 overs)
DJJ Bravo 77, S Chanderpaul 76, SC Joseph 45, RR Sarwan 40
MJ Hoggard 3/61, A Flintoff 2/46



Posted by Liam