Key grabs lifeline with 167 not out

Andy Strauss and Robert Key spanked centuries for England against a deflated West Indian bowling attack on the opening day of the first NPower Test match at Lord's. For Strauss it was his third international century at his home venue for the season and his second Test hundred. Featured for the year already were his century and half-century on debut and maiden One Day International hundred in the Natwest series. Robert Key's innings was also quite significant as the milestone was his first such in Test cricket, having scored just a solitary half-century in his previous 7 caps.

A very poor day for the tourists, it began in one of the worst possible ways - injury. Pedro Collins' first ball of the innings and match saw him slip in his follow through, brace on his left arm and seemingly injure his neck. For the rest of the day Collins appeared in great discomfort in all his duties.

Trescothick (16) looked to flick Tino Best to the legside but some extra pace and bounce meant he skied a relatively simple catch to Sarwan at midwicket and was the early casualty that brought Key to the crease. The Kent opener looked extremely solid, playing with a good straight bat in defence in the birthing stages of his innings. With some balls in the book, Key began to attack the bowling, taking particular liking to offspinner Omari Banks whose first 4 overs went for 34 runs.

All the while Strauss batted with the technical proficiency he has displayed throughout his brief international career. He still managed to score swiftly, punishing anything with width and favouring the offside field. In no time the 150 partnership came up and there were no signs of slowing.

Tino Best injected some life into game with a brief but lively spell in which he had Key seemingly caught at slip but, due to Devon Smith unsure as to whether the ball carried and suggesting it didn't, given not out without the replay being called for. It was the third chance given by the West Indians. Best himself dropped a caught and bowled chance off Trescothick earlier and Gayle injured his hand in the process of flooring a high chance from the bowling of Edwards and the bat of Key (on 16).

Gayle was off the field for a very significant portion of the day and indeed was sent to the hospital where he got an X-ray on his index finger. His return to the field after tea came with news of the injury being a bruise.

The return of Banks and Edwards proved no ease for Lara's worries and the runs continued to come in boundaries. Even when the boundaries didn't come, the two batsmen pressured the fielders with quick and purposeful running to turn singles into twos.

Middlesex captain, Strauss reached his hundred from 145 balls with 15 fours and kissed the turf at his home ground after sweeping Banks for 4 runs to go to 101. Soon after tea, Key joined the celebration, his century taking on almost identical stats of 146 balls and containing 15 fours. In the next over another boundary signalled the 250 up.

Banks returned for a third spell and saw no more joy as Key continued to use his feet in attack. Finally Banks would be the hero of sorts as Strauss top edged a cut off his bowling and Jacobs held the catch, relieved. It was almost an anticlimactic finish as Strauss had just lifted Banks for an indignant boundary to the midwicket fence. His glorious knock of 137 from 202 balls (20 fours) received the glorious standing ovation it deserved as he walked off with raised bat and as his captain strode to the middle eager to get in on the flat Lord's wicket. So ended a devastating 291-run partnership, the new record for the 2nd wicket between England and the West Indies.

Vaughan saw no problems in his brief stint at the crease and when he and Key walked off for bad light, he'd inked 36 not out from 65 balls into the scorebook. Once more the crowd rose to a huge ovation. This time it was for Robert Key and his sublime innings of 167 not out. He had to face just 227 balls and rarely looked troubled at all. His 23 boundaries were classic and indicated a brilliance in the form of the young man.

England ended at 391/2, falling just 37 runs short of the record for runs in a day's play but with the day ending 5.3 overs early. The third-wicket partnership to resume tomorrow already boasts 71 runs from 113 balls.

For Brian Lara it was a long and hard toil, considering that he won the toss and inserted the Englishmen. His bowlers never really looked like backing his faith in them. Tino Best was good in his first two spells, but a Key-plagued third appearance saw his figures to 16-1-75-1 at stumps. Omari Banks (17-2-111-1) was dealt with even more harshly and was never allowed to settle. Edwards looked severely short of match practice and Pedro Collins (13.3-2-58-0) struggled with injury. Dwayne Bravo bowled a very steady late spell but looked largely unpenetrative, though relatively economical (14-0-42-0). The part-timer Sarwan was the second most economical of the bowlers as he surrendered 28 runs from his 9 overs.

Play ended rather appropriately given the performance of West Indies on the day - a massive wide from Collins that flew past the full-stretch of Jacobs and away to the ropes.

Match Summary:

England 1st innings 391/2 (84.3 overs)
RWT Key 167 not out, AJ Strauss 137, MP Vaughan 36 not out
TL Best 1/75, OAC Banks 1/111




Posted by Liam